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https://archive.org/details/medicalsideofben01pepp 


THE  IMEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJMIIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  "William  Pepper,  AI.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathologj’,  University  of  Penns3'lvania. 

Bexjamix  Fe.an'Klix  lived  in  an  age  when  men  of  education  and 
genius  in  varying  paths  of  life  did  not  consider  it  strange  or  peculiar 
to  think,  discuss,  or  write  about  medical  matters.  These  men  did  not 
feel  that  they  were  intruding  on  any  ground  sacred  to  the  physician  in 
so  doing.  Thus  we  find  Matheiv  Carey,  the  publisher,  who  worked  so 
heroically  on  the  committee  of  safety  during  the  yellow  fetter  epidemic 
of  1793  in  Philadelphia,  writing  an  Account  of  the  Malignant  Fever, 
that  ran  through  four  editions  within  two  months;  Noah  W’ebster,  the 
lexicographer,  compiling  a History  of  Epidemic  and  Pestilential  Diseases; 
Thomas  Jefferson  receiving  from  Edivard  Jenner  vaccine  virus,  of  which 
he  made  good  use.  Franklin,  however,  just  as  he  surpassed  in  some 
other  lines  of  thought  these  men,  outdid  them  in  his  knowledge  of 
medical  affairs. 

“The  study  of  medicine  was  one  of  Franklin’s  chief  interests,  and  it 
is  one  of  the  least  known,”  said  Professor  Smyth  in  the  introduction  to 
his  splendid  edition  of  the  Life  and  Writings  of  Benjamin  Franklin; 
and  so,  although  perhaps  few  new  facts  can  be  added,  the  compilation 
of  the  following  abstracts  from  Franklin’s  writings,  together  with  a few 
statements  taken  chiefly  from  Smyth,  from  Paul  Leicester  Ford’s 
The  Many-sided  Franklin,  and  from  Sydney  George  Fisher’s 
The  True  Benjamin  Franklin,  will  impress  upon  us  how  much  of  a 
physician  Benjamin  Franklin  really  was.  The  recently  published 
calendar  of  the  Papers  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  in  the  library  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society,  so  ably  edited  by  Dr.  I.  iMinis  Hays, 
has  also  been  a great  help  in  discovering  references  to  medical  matters 
in  the  many  letters  to  Franklin  in  that  large  collection.  As  Atkinson 
says  in  his  Medical  Bibliography:  “Vie  must  all  plagiarize  from  each 
other,  or  little  will  be  made  out,  in  so  intricate  an  art  as  medicine.  W’hen 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


a writer  affects  to  despise  the  works  of  others,  and  ventures  to  produce 
his  own  as  valuable  and  original,  we  may  be  assured  that,  in  this  instance 
at  least,  he  is  an  original  fool  at  any  rate.” 

Although  Franklin  was  not  a graduate  of  any  medical  school,  still 
he  was  elected  a member  of  several  medical  societies;  and  it  must  not 


Fig.  1. — Benjamin  Franklin,  Docteur  en  Medecine.  From  a rare  engraving  by 
P.  Maren,  in  the  author’s  collection. 


be  forgotten  that  in  those  days  many  of  the  physicians  had  no  degrees. 
Although  he  did  not  practise  medicine  as  a profession  and  receive  pay- 
ment for  his  medical  advice,  still  he  nevertheless  did  treat  a number  of 
people  for  various  ills.  Never  calling  himself  physician,  he  was,  however, 
so  considered  by  some,  as  the  engra^■ing  here  reproduced  shows. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


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He  never  actually  studied  medicine,  but  yet  he  purchased  and  borrowed 
many  medical  works,  read  them,  commented  on  them,  and  discussed 
with  his  friends  various  diseases  and  their  method  of  treatment.  He  was 
a keen  student  of  such  diseases  as  came  under  his  observation.  He 
was  an  early  and  great  hygienist.  All  of  which,  though  not  entitling 
him  to  write  Doctor  of  Medicine  after  his  name,  would  in  those  days  of 
common  lack  of  medical  education  and  frequent  disregard  of  collegiate 
instruction  have  permitted  him,  had  he  not  had  other  work  to  perform, 
to  haA’e  called  himself  physician  and  to  haA'e  actually  practised  medicine. 

The  University  of  St.  Andrews  conferred  upon  Benjamin  Franklin, 
when  he  was  fifty-three  years  of  age,  the  honorary  degree,  by  virtue  of 
which  he  Avas  eA’er  after  known  as  Dr.  Franklin.  In  the  records  of  the 
Senatus  Academicus  of  that  University,  occurs  this  entry: 


U--S 


12  Feb.,  1759. 

Conferred  the  Degree  of  Doctor  in  Laws  on  Mr.  Benjamin  Franklin, 
famous  for  his  writings  on  Electricity,  and  appoint  his  diploma  to  be 
giA'en  him  gratis,  the  Clerk  and  Archbeadle’s  dues  to  be  paid  by  the 
Library  Quaestor. 

He  had  in  July,  1753,  receiA’ed  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  Af, " ■ 
from  HarA’ard  College,  and  the  same  degree  in  September  of  that  year 
from  Yale  College. 

Among  the  many  medical  subjects  that  Dr.  Franklin  discussed  Avith 
his  friends,  might  be  mentioned  “Diet  and  its  Effect  on  Health  and 
Disease.”  Franklin  AATote  in  a letter  that  “In  general,  mankind,  since 
the  improA'ement  of  cooking,  eat  about  tAvice  as  much  as  nature  requires. 
Suppers  are  not  bad,  if  we  have  not  dined,  but  restless  nights  naturally 
folloAv  hearty  suppers  after  full  dinners.  Indeed,  as  there  is  a difference 
in  constitutions,  some  rest  well  after  these  meals;  it  costs  them  only  a 
frightful  dream  and  an  apoplexy  after  AA'hich  they  sleep  till  doomsday. 
Nothing  is  more  common  in  the  neAA’spapers  than  instances  of  people,  who 
after  eating  a hearty  supper,  are  found  dead  abed  in  the  morning.” 

He  discussed  exercise  as  a means  of  preserA'ing  health  and  the  best 
forms  to  use,  the  influence  of  swimming,  cold  baths  and  fresh  air.  The  I 
taking  or  catching  of  colds  was  a A^ery  faA'orite  topic  of  Franklin’s  and 
his  nearest  approach  to  a real  medical  article  is  on  this  subject.  He^ 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


held  very  sensible  views,  considering  his  day,  and  gave  much  sensible 
advice,  which  the  world  has  been  slow  to  accept.  The  modern  treat- 
ment of  tuberculosis  is  based  largely  on  the  open  air  mode  of  life  Franklin 
so  persistently  advocated.  ^Vhen  he  had  unacceptable  advice  to  give 
of  any  kind,  he  made  people  swallow  down  the  bitter  pill  by  giving  it 
a sugar  coating  of  humor  or  jest.  So  Ave  find  him  in  his  bagatelle  “The 
Art  of  Procuring  Pleasant  Dreams,”  telling  us,  “It  is  recorded  of  iNIethu- 
salem,  aaTo,  being  the  longest  liA^er,  may  be  supposed  to  haA^e  best  pre- 
serA-ed  his  health,  that  he  slept  alAA'ays  in  the  open  air;  for,  AA'hen  he  had 
liA'ed  fiA-e  hundred  years,  an  angel  said  to  him,  “Arise,  Methusalem,  and 
build  thee  an  house,  for  thou  shalt  live  yet  fiA'e  hundred  years  longer.” 
But  Methusalem  ansAA'ered  and  said,  “If  I am  to  liA’e  but  fiA’^e  hundred 
years  longer,  it  is  not  Avorth  AA’hile  to  build  me  a house;  I Avill  sleep  in  the 
air  as  I haA’e  been  used  to  do.”  He  repeatedly  stated  that  colds  AAere 
caught  by  being  in  close,  unventilated  rooms  in  AA’hich  AA'ere  other  people 
who  possibly  AA^ere  already  affected.  He  thought  that  damp  clothes  might 
cause  colds,  but  that  clothes  A\'et  Avith  sea  AA'ater  AA’ould  not,  because,  as  he 
says,  no  clothes  could  be  AA’et  as  Avater  itself,  and  one  did  not  catch  cold 
Avhile  bathing  and  SAvimming.  He  recognized  the  epidemicity  and 
contagiousness  of  colds.  He  also  remarked  that  bathing  AA  Ould  quench 
the  thirst  and  stop  diarrhea,  and  that  bathing  or  sponging  Avith  Avater 
or  spirits  AA’ould  reduce  the  temperature  by  eA-aporation  in  feA'ers.  He 
wrote  a A'ery  capable  letter  on  the  heat  of  the  blood  and  the  causes  thereof, 
and  also  upon  the  motion  of  the  blood,  and  had  in  his  library  a glass 
machine  that  demonstrated  this  motion  of  the  blood  through  the  arteries, 
veins  and  capillaries.  He  discussed,  learnedly,  the  absorbent  A^essels 
and  perspiratory  ducts  of  the  skin  and  carried  on  experiments  to  proA'e 
his  theories.  Sleep,  deafness,  and  nyctalopia  all  engaged  Franklin’s 
attention.  He  inA-ented  bifocal  lenses  for  spectacles  and  a flexible 
catheter.  He  AA^as  much  interested  in  medical  education  and  had 
decided  vieAA's  on  the  subject.  He  helped  many  young  medical  students 
in  their  desire  to  study  abroad,  among  them  Rush,  Morgan,  Shippen, 
Kuhn,  and  Griffitts.  Although  Thomas  Bond  originated  the  idea  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  Franklin  created  it  and  Avas  its  first  President. 
I His  letters  on  lead  poisoning  are  AAmnderful,  and  would  have  been  a 
credit  to  any  physician  of  that  age;  his  observations  upon  gout,  and 
personal  observations  they  Avere,  are  shreAA’d  and  exact.  Smallpox 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


5 


and  inoculation,  cancer,  yellow  fever,  fever  and  ague,  sea-sickness, 
all  claimed  liis  attention.  In  many  of  Franklin’s  letters  we  note  his 
interest  in  various  drugs  and  in  various  methods  of  cure.  He  showed 
a healthy  skepticism  of  all  empirical  remedies,  when  one  considers  the 
time  in  which  he  lived.  Much  could  be  written  of  his  treatment  of 
nervous  diseases  by  electricity.  Many  patients  consulted  him;  many 
doctors  wrote  to  him  for  advice;  even  Sir  John  Pringle  begs  him  to  come 
and  treat  the  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Ancaster.  Franklin  was  not 
carried  away  by  his  temporary  successes  with  this  method  of  treatment, 
Franklinism,  as  it  has  been  called,  but  gives  a very  reserved  opinion  upon 
its  value.  There  are  a number  of  letters  in  the  American  Philosophical 


Fig.  2. — Dr.  Thomas  Bond.  From  an  old  minature  belonging  to  the  author. 

Society’s  collection  asking  for  details  of  a cure  for  dropsy,  that  Franklin 
was  supposed  to  have  discovered,  but  of  which  he  disclaimed  any 
knowledge.  He  was  interested  in  vital  statistics  and  the  mortality  of 
different  diseases.  He  wrote  about  the  great  death  rate  of  foundlings  and 
among  children  not  nursed  at  the  breast  by  their  own  mothers,  and  the 
growing  habit  among  the  French  to  neglect  this  duty.  He  discussed  the 
doctrines  of  life  and  death.  On  several  occasions  he  wrote  about  the 
possibility  of  infection  remaining  for  long  periods  in  dead  bodies  after 
burial,  and  the  effect  of  electricity  on  animals  killed  by  electricity.  His 
ability  and  knowledge  in  everything  pertaining  to  medicine  led  the  King 
of  France  to  appoint  him  a member  of  the  commission  which  investigated 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidletin 


^IMesmer,  and  it  was  Franklin  who  wrote  the  report.  He  proved  himself 
a comparative  anatomist  in  a description  which  he  wrote  about  some 
fossil  elephant’s  teeth  that  he  examined.  Even  Dr.  Jan  Ingenhousz, 
physician  to  Maria  Theresa  and  Joseph  II,  before  inoculating  the  young- 
princes,  sought  Franklin’s  advice. 

One  cannot  help  being  impressed  by  the  fact  that  the  majority  of 
Franklin’s  friends  seem  to  have  been  medical  men,  at  least  if  we  judge 
from  the  letters  to  and  from  Franklin.  He  corresponded,  visited,  and 
travelled  with  them,  and  they  seem  to  have  been  his  most  congenial 
friends.  Physicians  dedicated  their  works  to  him,  translated  his  writings 
into  Fi’ench,  invited  him  to  their  meetings,  made  him  a member  of  their 
societies,  and  received  him  always  as  one  of  their  own  body.  It  is 
interesting  to  speculate  upon  the  kind  of  physician  Franklin  would  have 
made,  and  I believe  all  will  agree  with  me,  after  reading  the  following 
pages,  in  feeling  that  with  his  great  common  sense,  his  so  pleasing' 
personality,  his  wonderfully  wide  knowledge,  his  extraordinary  tact, 
his  way  of  always  getting  what  he  wanted,  his  ability  to  make  friends, 
his  insight  into  human  character,  his  love  of  investigation,  and  in  fact 
everything  that  goes  to  make  up  the  truly  big  man  in  the  medical  pro- 
fession, he  would,  had  he  devoted  himself  to  medicine  almost  exclusively, 
now  be  considered,  one  of  the  greatest  physicians  of  our  country.  Well 
indeed,  even  as  it  is,  did  he  merit  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  and  it 
is  our  loss  that  we  can  only  claim  him  as  a sort  of  adopted  father  of  the 
profession. 

I have  thought  it  best  for  the  sake  of  clearness  to  reprint  first  from 
Franklin’s  Autobiography  and  then  in  chronological  order,  abstracts 
from  Franklin’s  writings.  In  the  Antohiography  but  few  references 
appear  worthy  of  quotation.  The  following  account,  however,  shows  his 
interest  in  dietetic  matters  even  when  he  was  a lad.  He  was  actuated 
not  alone,  however,  by  mere  thoughts  of  health. 

When  about  sixteen  years  of  age  I happened  to  meet 
with  a book,  written  by  one  Tryon,  recommending  a vegetable  diet. 
I determined  to  go  into  it.  My  brother,  being  yet  unmarried  did 
not  keep  house,  but  boarded  himself  and  his  apprentices  in  another 
family.  My  refusing  to  eat  fiesh  occasioned  an  inconveniency,  and  I 
was  frequently  chid  for  my  singularity.  I made  myself  acquainted 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


with  Trvon’s  manner  of  preparing  some  of  his  dishes,  such  as  boiling 
potatoes  or  rice,  making  hasty  pudding,  and  a few  others,  and  then 
proposed  to  my  brother,  that  if  he  would  give  me  weekly,  half  the  money 
he  paid  for  my  board,  I would  board  myself.  He  instantly  agreed  to  it, 
and  I presently  found  that  I could  save  half  of  what  he  paid  me.  This 
was  an  additional  fund  for  buying  books.  But  I had  another  advantage 
in  it.  My  brother  and  the  rest  going  from  the  printing-house  to  their 
meals  I remained  there  alone,  and,  despatching  presently  my  light 
repast,  which  often  was  no  more  than  a bisket  or  a slice  of  bread,  a 
handful  of  raisins  or  a tart  from  the  pastry-cook’s,  and  a glass  of 


Fig.  3. — Sir  Hans  Sloane. 


water,  had  the  rest  of  the  time  till  their  return  for  study,  in  which  I 
made  the  greater  progress,  from  that  greater  clearness  of  head  and 
quicker  apprehension,  which  usually  attend  temperance  in  eating  and 
drinking.  . . . 

Franklin  says  in  another  place: 

I had  brought  over  a few  curiosities,  among  which  the 
principal  was  a purse  made  of  the  asbestos,  which  purifies  by  fire.  Sir 
Hans  Sloane^  heard  of  it,  came  to  see  me,  and  invited  me  to  his  house 

’ Sir  Hans  Sloane,  1660-1763.  Born  in  Ireland.  Studied  and  practised  medicine 
in  London.  Travelled  widely  and  made  large  collections  of  plants  and  other  objects 
in  natural  history.  Physician-General  to  the  Army.  President  of  the  College  of 
Physicians.  President  of  the  Royal  Society,  etc.  On  his  death,  his  library  of  fifty 
thousand  volumes  and  his  various  collections  were  purchased  by  the  nation  for 
£20,000,  and  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  British  Museum. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


in  Bloomsbury  Square,  where  he  showed  me  all  his  curiosities,  and 
persuaded  me  to  let  him  add  that  to  the  number,  for  which  he  paid  me 
handsomely.  . . . 


In  the  British  iNIuseum  there  is,  however,  the  following  letter,  which 
puts  a slightly  different  aspect  upon  the  sale  of  the  purse: 


(London)  June  2,  1725. 


To  Sir  Hans  Sloane, 

Sir: 

Having  lately  been  in  the  Nothern  Parts  of  America  I have  brought 
from  thence  a Purse  made  of  the  Stone  Asbestus,  a Piece  of  Wood,  the 
Pithy  Part  of  which  is  of  the  same  Nature,  and  call’d  by  the  Inhabitants, 
Salamander  Cotton.  As  you  are  noted  to  be  a Lover  of  Curiosities,  I 
have  inform’d  you  of  these;  and  if  you  have  any  Inclination  to  purchase 
them,  or  see  ’em,  let  me  know  your  Pleasure  by  a Line  directed  for  me 
at  the  Golden  Fan  in  Little  Britain,  and  I will  wait  upon  you  with  them. 

I am,  Sir 

Your  most  humble  Servant 
Benjamin  Franklin. 

P.  S.  I expect  to  be  out  of  Town  in  2 or  3 Days,  and  therefore  beg  an 
Immediate  Answer: — 


A short  piece  from  his  Autobiography  gives  his  views  succinctly  on 
inoculation.  His  point  of  view  might  well  be  urged  nowadays  on  many 
who  fear  vaccination. 

. In  1736  I lost  one  of  my  sons,  a fine  boy  of  four  years 
old,  by  the  siuall-pox,  taken  in  the  common  way.  I long  regretted 
bitterly,  and  still  regret  that  I had  not  given  it  to  him  by  inoculation. 
This  I mention  for  the  sake  of  parents  who  omit  that  operation,  on  the 
supposition  that  they  should  never  forgive  themselves  if  a child  died 
under  it;  my  example  showing  that  the  regret  may  be  the  same  either 
way,  and  that,  therefore,  the  safer  should  be  chosen.  . . 

There  is  a memorandum  of  Franklin’s  that  states  that  Sally  (his 
daughter)  was  inoculated  April  IS,  1746. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Be7iiamin  FranMin 


9 


In  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of  December  13, 1736,  his  own  newspaper, 

Franklin  printed  the  following  notice: 

Understanding  ’tis  a current  Report,  that  my  Son  Francis,  who  died 
lately  of  the  Small  Pox,  had  it  by  Inoculation;  and  being  desired  to 
satisfy  the  Publick  in  that  Particular;  in  as  much  as  some  People  are, 
by  that  Report  (join’d  with  others  of  the  like  kind,  and  perhaps  equally 
groundless)  deter’d  from  having  that  Operation  perform’d  on  their 
children,  I do  hereby  sincerely  declare,  that  he  was  not  inoculated,  but 
receiv’d  the  Distemper  in  the  common  Way  of  Infection,  and  I suppose 
the  Report  could  only  arise  from  its  being  my  known  Opinion,  that 
Inoculation  was  a safe  and  beneficial  Practice;  and  from  my  having 
said  among  my  Acquaintance,  that  I intended  to  have  my  child  inoculated 
as  soon  as  he  should  have  recovered  sufficient  strength  from  a Flux  with 
Avhich  he  had  been  long  afilicted. 

B.  Franklin. 

Benjamin  Franklin,  it  is  often  stated,  was  the  founder  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital,  but  he  gives  in  his  Antobiogj-aphy  full  credit  to  Dr. 

Thomas  Bond  for  originating  the  plan.  The  story  of  the  foundation 
of  this  our  oldest  hospital  in  this  country  is  worth  quotation  if  for  no 
other  reason  than  to  prove  that  “political  manoeuvres”  may  serve  bene- 
ficial ends  at  times. 

. In  1751,  Dr.  Thomas  Bond,^  a particular  friend  of  mine,  j 7 / 

conceived  the  idea  of  establishing  a hospital  in  Philadelphia  (a  very 
beneficient  design,  Avhich  has  been  ascrib’d  to  me,  but  was  originally 
his),  for  the  reception  and  cure  of  poor  sick  persons,  whether  inhabitants 
of  the  province  or  strangers.  He  Avas  zealous  and  active  in  endeaA'our- 
ing  to  procure  subscriptions  for  it,  but  the  proposal  being  a novelty  in 
America,  and  at  first  not  Avell  understood,  he  met  with  but  small  success. 

' Thomas  Bond,  1712-1784.  Born  in  Calvert  Co.,  Md.  Came  to  Philadelphia 
and  began  to  practice  medicine  in  1734.  Physician  to  the  Pennsyh^ania  Hospital 
from  its  foundation  in  1751  until  1784.  In  1766  in  that  Hospital,  he  gave  his  first 
course  of  clinical  lectures,  the  first  of  their  kind  in  this  country.  Founder  of  the 
American  Philasophical  Society.  An  original  trustee  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
A'ania.  During  the  Revolution,  although  over  sixty,  he  served  as  one  of  the  exami- 
ning surgeons  of  the  Colonial  Medical  Department. 


10  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

At  length  he  came  to  me  with  the  compliment  that  he  found  there  was 
no  such  thing  as  carrying  a public-spirited  project  through  without  my 
beino;  concern’d  in  it. 

“For,”  says  he,  “I  am  often  ask’d  by  those  to  whom  I purpose  sub- 
scribing. Have  you  consulted  Franklin  upon  this  business?  And 
what  does  he  think  of  it?  And  when  I tell  that  I have  not  (supposing 
it  rather  out  of  your  line),  they  do  not  subscribe,  but  say  they  will  con- 
sider of  it.”  I encjuired  into  the  nature  and  probable  utility  of  his 


Fig.  4.— The  Pennsylvania  Hospital.  From  a student’s  certificate  of  the  year  1792. 

Engraved  by  R.  Scot.  In  the  possession  of  the  author. 

scheme,  and  receiving  from  him  a very  satisfactory  explanation,  I not 
only  subscrib’d  to  it  myself,  but  engag’d  heartily  in  the  design  of  pro- 
curing subscriptions  from  -others.  Previously,  however,  to  the  solicita- 
tion, I endeavoured  to  prepare  the  minds  of  the  people  by  writing  on 
the  subject  in  the  newspapers,  which  was  my  usual  custom  in  such  cases, 
but  which  he  had  omitted. 

The  subscriptions  afterwards  were  more  free  and  generous;  but, 
beginning  to  flag,  I saw  they  would  be  insufficient  without  some  assist- 
ance from  the  Assembly,  and  therefore  propos’d  to  petition  for  it,  which 
was  done.  The  country  members  did  not  at  first  relish  the  project. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Beniamin  Franklin 


11 


they  objected  that  it  could  only  be  serviceable  to  the  city,  and  therefore 
the  citizens  alone  should  be  at  the  expense  of  it;  and  they  doubted 
whether  the  citizens  themselves  generally  approv’d  of  it.  My  allegation 
on  the  contrary,  that  it  met  with  such  approbation  as  to  leave  no  doubt 
of  our  being  able  to  raise  two  thousand  pounds  by  voluntary  donations, 
thej  considered  as  a most  extravagant  supposition,  and  utterly  impos- 
sible. 

On  this  I form’d  my  plan;  and,  asking  leave  to  bring  in  a bill  for  in- 
corporating the  contributors  according  to  the  prayer  of  their  petition, 
and  granting  them  a blank  sum  of  money,  which  leave  was  obtained 
chiefly  on  the  consideration  that  the  House  could  throw  the  bill  out  if 
they  did  not  like  it,  I drew  it  so  as  to  make  the  important  clause  a condi- 
tional one,  viz.,  “And  be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid  that  when 
the  said  contributors  shall  have  met  and  chosen  their  managers  and 
treasurer,  and  shall  have  raised  by  their  contributions  a capital  stock 
of  . . . value  (the  yearly  interest  of  which  is  to  be  applied  to  the 

accommodating  of  the  sick  poor  in  the  said  hospital,  free  of  charge  for 
diet,  attendance,  advice,  and  medicines),  and  shall  make  the  same 
appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  speaker  of  the  Assembly  for  the  time 
being,  that  then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  said  speaker,  and  he 
is  hereby  required  to  sign  an  order  on  the  provincial  treasurer  for  the 
payment  of  the  two  thousand  pounds,  in  two  yearly  payments,  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  said  hospital,  to  be  applied  to  the  founding,  building, 
and  finishing  of  the  same. 

This  condition  carried  the  bill  through,  for  the  members,  who  had 
oppos’d  the  grant,  and  now  conceiv’d  they  might  have  the  credit  of  being 
charitable  without  the  expense,  agreed  to  its  passage;  and  then,  in  soli- 
citing subscriptions  among  the  people,  we  urg’d  the  conditional  promise 
of  the  law  as  an  additional  motive  to  give,  since  every  man’s  donation 
would  be  doubled;  thus  the  clause  work’d  both  ways.  The  subscriptions 
accordingly  soon  exceeded  the  requisite  sum,  and  we  claim’d  and  receiv’d 
the  public  gift,  which  enabled  us  to  carry  the  design  into  execution.  A 
convenient  and  handsome  building  was  soon  erected;  the  institution 
has  by  constant  experience  been  found  useful,  and  flourishes  to  this  day; 
and  I do  not  remember  any  of  my  political  manoeuvres,  the  success  of 
which  gave  me  at  the  time  more  pleasure,  or  wherein,  after  thinking  of 
it,  I more  easily  excus’d  myself  for  having  made  some  use  of  cunning. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


In  ]\Iorton’s  History  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  occur  many 
references  to  Franklin’s  connection  with  the  hospital,  and  from  them  we 


Fig.  5. — Title-page  of  PTanklin’s  Account  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital. 
From  a copy  in  the  author’s  library. 


learn  that  in  1754  he  was  requested  to  prepare  a brief  account  of  the 
Penn,sylvania  Hospital,  and  on  May  28,  1754,  he  presented  his  manu- 
script “Some  Account  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  from  its  First 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


13 


Beginning  to  the  Fifth  Month,  called  May,  1754.”  It  was  ordered  that 
the  Clerk,  John  Smith,  get  fifteen  hundred  copies  printed,  in  quarto. 

On  May  2S,  1755,  the  corner-stone  of  the  hospital  on  Eighth  Street,  ■ 7 
between  Spruce  and  Pine  Streets,  was  laid;  the  inscription,  which  was 
written  by  Franklin  reads: 

IX  THE  YEAR  OF  CHRIST 
MDCCLV. 

GEORGE  THE  SECOXD  H-CPPILY  REIGXIXG 

(for  he  sought  the  h.\ppixess  of  his  people) 

PHILADELPHIA  FLOURISHIXG 

(for  its  ixh-cbitaxts  were  publick  spirited) 

THIS  BUILDIXG 

BY  THE  BOL'XTY  OF  THE  GOVERXMEXT, 

AXD  OF  MAXY  PRIVATE  PERSOXS, 

WAS  PIOUSLY  FOUXDED 

FOR  THE  RELIEF  OF  THE  SICK  AXD  MISERABLE; 

MAY  THE  GOD  OF  MERCIES 
BLESS  THE  UXDERTAKIXG. 

On  June  30,  1755,  Dr.  Franklin  was  unanimously  elected  President  ' 

of  the  Board,  to  succeed  Mr.  Crosby,  and  he  presided  at  the  first  meeting 
held  in  the  new  building. 

Franklin’s  fines  for  non-attendance  and  for  lateness  at  the  Manager’s 
meetings,  from  May,  1755,  until  May,  1756,  amounted  to  ;£l.ll,  he 
having  been  fined  -^2.6  for  total  absence  eleven  times,  besides  two 
smaller  sums  of  .;!^1.6  each  for  lateness. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Board  held  INIarch  28,  1757,  it  was  resolved  that 

“The  President  of  the  Board,  Benjamin  Franklin,  being  appointed 
Provincial  Aaent  to  England  and  is  about  to  sail  in  a short  time,  he  is 
requested  after  his  arrival  there,  to  use  his  interest  in  soliciting  Donations 
to  the  Hospital  whenever  he  may  have  a Prospect  of  success  therein.” 

Franklin’s  own  description  of  his  election  to  the  Royal  Society  and 
of  his  receiving  the  Copley  medal,  tells  how  much  he  was  indebted  to 
his  medical  friends  for  those  honors. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Dr.  Wright,  an  English  physician,  when  at  Paris,  wrote  to 
a friend,  who  was  of  the  Royal  Society,  an  account  of  the  high  esteem 
my  experiments  were  in  among  the  learned  abroad,  and  of  their  wonder 
that  my  writings  had  been  so  little  noticed  in  England.  The  Society, 
on  this,  resum’d  the  consideration  of  the  letters  that  had  been  read  to 
them;  and  the  celebrated  Dr.  Watson  drew  up  a summary  account  of 
them,  and  of  all  I had  afterward  sent  to  England  on  the  subject,  which 
he  accompanied  with  some  praise  of  the  writer. 

This  summary  was  then  printed  in  their  Transactions,  and  some 
members  of  the  society  in  London,  particularly  the  very  ingenious  Mr. 
Canton,  having  verified  the  experiment  of  procuring  lightning  from  the 
clouds  by  a pointed  rod,  and  acquainting  them  with  the  success,  they 
soon  made  me  more  than  amends  for  the  slight  with  which  they  had 
before  treated  me.  Without  my  having  made  any  application  for  that 
honour,  they  chose  me  a member,  and  voted  that  I should  be  excus’d 
the  customary  payments,  which  would  have  amounted  to  twenty-five 
guineas;  and  ever  since  have  given  me  their  transactions  gratis.  They 
also  presented  me  with  the  gold  medal  of  Sir  Godfrey  Copley  for  the  year 
1753;  the  delivery  of  which  was  accompanied  by  a very  handsome 
speech  of  the  President,  Lord  Macclesfield,  wherein  I was  highly 
honoured. 


These  abstracts  above  quoted  include  practically  all  that  appears  in 
regard  to  medical  matters  in  the  Autohiogra'phy , and  I will,  therefore,  now 
quote  from  Franklin’s  other  writings,  trying  to  give  them  in  somewhat 
chronological  order. 

One  of  the  earliest  medical  allusions  is  in  a letter  to  his  sister. 


Philadelphia,  June  19,  1731. 


To  Mrs.  Jane  Mecom. 

We  have  had  the  small-pox  here  lately,  which  raged  violently 
while  it  lasted.  There  have  been  about  fifty  persons  inoculated,  who  all 
recovered  except  a child  of  the  Doctor’s  upon  wTom  the  small-pox 
appeared  within  a day  or  two  after  the  operation,  and  who  is  therefore 
thought  to  have  been  certainly  infected  before.  In  one  family  in  my 
neighborhood,  there  appeared  a great  mortality.  The  dissolution  of 
this  family  is  generally  ascribed  to  an  imprudent  use  of  quicksilver  in 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


15 


the  cure  of  the  itch.  iNIr  Claypoole  applying  it  as  he  thought  proper, 
without  consulting  a physician  for  fear  of  charges,  and  the  small-pox 
coming  upon  them  at  the  same  time,  made  their  case  desperate. 

But  what  gives  me  the  greatest  concern,  is  the  account  you  give  me 
of  my  sister  Holmes’s  misfortune.  I know  a cancer  in  the  breast  is  often 
thought  incurable,  yet  we  have  here  in  town  a kind  of  shell  made  of  some 
wood,  cut  at  a proper  time,  by  some  man  of  great  skill,  (as  they  say), 
which  has  done  wonders  in  that  disease  among  us,  being  worn  for  some 
time  on  the  breast.  I am  not  apt  to  be  superstitiously  fond  of  believing 
such  things,  but  the  instances  are  so  well  attested,  as  sufficiently  to 
convince  the  most  incredulous.  This,  if  I have  interest  enough  to  pro- 
cure, as  I think  I have,  I will  borrow  for  a time  and  send  it  to  you,  and 
I hope  the  doctors  you  have  will  at  least  allow  the  experiment  to  be  tried 
and  shall  rejoice  to  hear  that  it  has  the  accustomed  effect. 

An  interesting  letter  to  his  father  and  mother  tells  us  that  he  at  times 
meddled  in  the  doctor’s  sphere,  but  not  to  excess. 

Philadelphia,  Sept.  6,  1744. 

Honoured  Father  and  Mother: 

I apprehend  I am  too  busy  in  prescribing  and  meddling  in  the  doctor’s 
sphere,  when  any  of  you  complain  of  ails  in  your  letters.  But  as  I 
always  employ  a physician  myself,  when  any  disorder  arises  in  my  family, 
and  submit  implicitly  to  his  orders  in  everything,  so  I hope  you  consider 
my  advice,  when  I give  any,  only  as  a mark  of  my  good  will,  and  put 
no  more  of  it  in  practice  than  happens  to  agree  with  what  your  doctor 
directs. 

Your  notion  of  the  use  of  strong  lye  I suppose  may  have  a good  deal 
in  it.  The  salt  of  tartar,  or  salt  of  wormwood,  frequently  prescribed  for 
cutting,  opening,  and  cleansing,  is  nothing  more  than  the  salt  of  lye 
procured  by  evaporation.  Mrs.  Steven’s  medicine  for  a stone  and  gravel, 
the  secret  of  which  was  lately  purchased  at  a great  price  by  the  Parlia- 
ment, has  for  its  principal  ingredient  salt,  which  Boerhaave  calls  the 
most  universal  remedy.  The  same  salt  intimately  mixed  with  oil  of 
turpentine,  which  you  also  mentioned,  made  the  sapo  philosophorum, 
wonderfully  extolled  by  some  chemists  for  like  purposes.  It  is  highly 
probable,  as  your  doctor  says,  that  medicines  are  much  altered  in  passing 
between  the  stomach  and  bladder;  but  such  salts  seem  well  fitted  in  their 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


nature  to  pass  with  the  least  alteration  of  almost  anything  we  know,  and, 
if  they  will  not  dissolve  gravel  and  stone,  yet  I am  half  persuaded  that  a 
moderate  use  of  them  may  go  a great  way  toward  preventing  these 
disorders,  as  they  assist  a weaker  digestion  in  the  stomach,  and  power- 
fully dissolve  crudities  such  as  those  which  I have  frequently  experienced. 
As  to  honey  and  molasses,  I did  not  mention  them  merely  as  openers 
and  loosers,  but  also  from  conjecture,  that,  as  they  are  heavier  in  them- 
selves than  our  common  drink,  they  might  when  dissolved  in  our  bodies 
increase  the  gravity  of  our  fluids,  the  urine  in  particular,  and  by  that 
means  keep  separate  and  suspended  therein  those  particles,  which,  when 
unused,  form  gravel.  . . . 

In  a very  long  letter  to  Cadwallader  Golden,^  of  New  York,  which  I 
cannot  give  in  full,  Franklin  discusses  very  logically  various  anatomical 
theories,  and  at  the  end  apologizes  for  “meddling  with  matters  directly 
pertaining  to  your  (Golden’s)  profession,  and  entirely  out  of  the  way  of 
my  own.”  After  reading  the  whole  letter  one  feels  that  Franklin  was 
well  able  to  discuss  such  matters,  and  that  he  need  not  have  apologized 
to  Golden  at  all. 

Philadelphia,  August  15,  1745. 

To  Gadwallader  Golden. 

I am  extremely  pleased  with  your  doctrine  of  the  absorbent 
vessels  intermixed  with  the  perspiratory  ducts,  both  on  the  external  and 
internal  superficies  of  the  body.  After  I had  read  Sanctorius,  I imagined 
a constant  stream  of  the  perspirable  matter  issuing  at  every  pore  in  the 
skin.  But  then  I was  puzzled  to  account  for  the  effects  of  mercurial 
unctions  for  the  strangury,  sometimes  occasioned  by  an  outward  applica- 
tion of  the  flies,  and  the  like,  since  whatever  virtue  or  quality  might  be  in 
a medicine  laid  upon  the  skin,  if  it  would  enter  the  body,  it  must  go 
against  wind  and  tide,  as  one  may  say.  Dr.  Hales  helped  me  a little, 
when  he  informed  me,  in  his  Vegetable  Statics,  that  the  body  is  not  always 
in  a perspirable,  but  sometimes  in  an  imbibing  state,  as  he  expresses  it, 
and  will  at  times  actually  grow  heavier  by  being  exposed  to  moist  air. 

But  this  did  not  quite  remove  my  difficulty,  since,  as  these  fits  of 

^ Cadwallader  Golden,  1688-1776.  Born  in  Scotland,  came  to  America  about 
1708.  Practised  medicine  in  New  York,  where  he  was  Lieutenant-Governor  from 
1761  until  his  death.  Wrote  a History  of  the  Five  Indian  Nations  of  Canada. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


17 


imbibing  did  not  appear  to  be  regular  or  frequent,  a blistering  plaster 
might  lie  on  the  body  a week,  or  a mercurial  unguent  be  used  a month,  to 
no  purpose,  if  the  body  should  so  long  continue  in  a perspirable  state. 
Your  doctrine,  which  was  quite  new  to  me,  makes  all  easy,  since  the  body 
may  perspire  and  absorb  at  the  same  time,  through  the  different  ducts 
destined  to  those  different  ends. 

I do  not  remember,  that  any  anatomist,  that  has  fallen  in 
my  way,  has  assigned  any  other  cause  of  the  motion  of  the  blood  through 
its  whole  circle,  than  the  contractile  force  of  the  heart,  by  which  that  fluid 
is  driven  with  violence  into  the  arteries,  and  so  continually  propelled 
by  repetitions  of  the  same  force,  till  it  arrives  at  the  heart  again.  iNIay 
we  for  our  present  purpose  suppose  another  cause  producing  half  the 
effect,  and  say  that  the  ventricles  of  the  heart,  like  syringes,  draw  when 
they  dilate,  as  well  as  force  when  they  contract?  That  this  is  not  un- 
likely, may  be  judged  from  the  valves  nature  has  placed  in  the  arteries,  to 
prevent  the  drawing  back  of  the  blood  in  those  vessels  when  the  heart 
dilates,  while  no  such  obstacles  prevent  its  sucking  (to  use  the  vulgar 
expression)  from  the  A’eins.  If  this  be  allowed,  and  the  insertion  of  the 
absorbents  into  the  veins  and  of  the  perspirants  into  the  arteries  be 
agreed  to,  it  will  be  of  no  importance  in  what  direction  they  are  inserted. 
For,  as  the  branches  of  the  arteries  are  continually  lessening  in  their 
diameters,  and  the  motion  of  the  blood  decreasing  by  means  of  the  in- 
creased resistance,  there  must,  as  more  is  constantly  pressed  on  behind, 
arise  a kind  of  crowding  in  the  extremities  of  those  vessels,  which  will 
naturally  force  out  what  is  contained  in  the  perspirants  that  communicate 
with  them.  This  lessens  the  quantity  of  blood,  so  that  the  heart  cannot 
receive  again  by  the  veins  all  it  had  discharged  into  the  arteries,  which 
occasions  it  to  draw  strongly  upon  the  absorbents,  that  communicate 
with  them.  And  thus  the  body  is  continually  perspiring  and  imbibing. 
Hence  after  long  fasting  the  body  is  more  liable  to  receive  infection  from 
bad  air,  and  food  before  it  is  sufficiently  chylified,  is  drawn  crude  into 
the  blood  by  the  absorbents  that  open  into  the  bowels. 

In  another  letter  to  Colden  he  continues  this  discussion. 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  28,  1745. 

. . . If  there  is  no  contrivance  in  the  frame  of  the  auricles  or 

ventricles  of  the  heart,  by  which  they  dilate  themselves  I cannot  conceive 


IS 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


how  they  are  dilated.  It  is  said,  by  the  force  of  the  venal  blood  rushing 
into  them.  But  if  that  blood  has  no  force  given  to  it  by  the  contraction 
of  the  heart,  how  can  it  (diminished  as  it  must  be  by  the  resisting  fric- 
tion of  the  vessels  it  has  passed  through)  be  strong  enough  to  overcome 


_ jJH  B AEB . 


Fig.  G. — Dr.  John  Bard.  From  an  engraving  by  Lene}’,  after  Sliarpless. 

In  the  author’s  collection. 

that  contraction?  Your  doctrine  of  fermentation  in  the  capillaries  helps 
me  a little;  for  if  the  returning  blood  be  rarefied  by  the  fermentation,  its 
motion  must  be  increased;  but  as  it  seems  to  me  that  it  must  by  its  ex- 
pansion resist  the  arterial  blood  behind  it,  as  much  as  it  accelerates  the 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


19 


venal  blood  before  it,  I am  still  somewhat  unsatisfied.  I have  heard  or 
read  somewhere,  too,  that  the  hearts  of  some  animals  continue  to  contract 
and  dilate,  or  to  beat,  as  it  is  commonly  expressed,  after  they  are  sepa- 
rated from  the  other  vessels,  and  taken  out  of  the  body.  If  this  be  true, 
their  dilatation  is  not  caused  by  the  force  of  the  returning  blood.  . 

I have  not  the  original  of  Dr.  Mitchell’s^  tract  on  the  Yellow  Fever. 
IMine  is  a copy  I had  taken,  with  his  leave,  when  here. 

I have  a friend  gone  to  New  York  with  a view  of  settling 
there,  if  he  can  meet  with  encouragement.  It  is  Dr.  John  Bard,^  whom 
I esteem  an  ingenious  physician  and  surgeon,  and  a discreet,  worthy, 
and  honest  man.  If,  upon  conversation  with  him,  you  find  this  char- 
acter just,  I doubt  not  but  you  will  afford  him  your  advice  and  counten- 
ance, which  will  be  of  great  service  to  him  in  a place  where  he  is  entirely 
a stranger,  and  very  much  obliged.  Sir,  Your  most  humble  servant. 

B.  Franklin. 


In  a letter  to  his  mother  he  exhibits  his  natural  curiosity  about  diseases: 


Philadelphia,  Oct.  16,  1749. 


To  Mrs.  Abiah  Franklin. 

Pray  tell  us  Avhat  kind  of  a sickness  you  have  had  in  Boston 
this  summer.  Besides  the  measles  and  flux,  which  have  carried  off 
many  children,  we  have  lost  some  grown  persons,  by  what  we  call  the 
Yellow  Fever;  though  that  is  almost,  if  not  quite  over,  thanks  to  God, 
who  has  preserved  all  our  family  in  perfect  health. 


^ Dr.  John  Mitchell,  physician  and  botanist,  who  settled  early  in  the  eighteenth 
centiirj'  at  Urbanna,  on  the  Rappahannock.  A friend  of  Benjamin  Franklin's. 

- John  Bard,  1716-1799.  Born  near  Philadelphia;  moved  to  New  York,  where  he 
practised  medicine  many  years.  He  was  the  first  President  of  the  Medical  Society 
of  New  York.  Begged  Frankhn  to  accept  the  dedication  of  one  of  his  works. 


THE  MEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  William  Peppeb,  M.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathology,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  following  short  article  was  found  by  Sparks  in  Franklin’s  hand- 
writing among  the  papers  of  Cadw^allader  Golden.  It  was  undated. 
It  is  a very  clever  and  concise  exposition: 

A Conjecture  as  to  the  Cause  of  the  Heat  of  the  Blood  in  Health, 
and  of  the  Cold  and  Hot  Fits  of  Some  Fevers. 

The  parts  of  fluids  are  so  smooth,  and  roll  among  one  another  with 
so  little  friction,  that  they  will  not  by  any  (mechanical)  agitation  grow 
warmer.  A phial  half  full  of  water  shook  with  violence  and  long  con- 
tinued, the  water  neither  heats  itself  nor  warms  the  phial.  Therefore 
the  blood  does  not  acquire  its  heat  either  from  the  motion  and  friction 
of  its  own  parts,  or  its  friction  against  the  sides  of  its  vessels. 

But  the  parts  of  solids,  by  reason  of  their  closer  adhesion,  cannot 
move  among  themselves  without  friction,  and  that  produces  heat.  Thus,' 
bend  a plummet  to  and  fro,  and  in  the  place  of  bending,  it  shall  soon 
grow  hot.  Friction  on  any  part  of  our  flesh  heats  it.  Clapping  of  the 
hands  warm  them.  Exercise  warms  the  whole  body. 

The  heart  is  a thick  muscle,  continually  contracting  and  dilating 
nearly  eighty  times  in  a minute.  By  this  motion  there  must  be  a con- 
stant interfriction  of  its  constituent  solid  parts.  That  friction  must  pro- 
duce a heat,  and  that  heat  must  consequently  be  continually  communi- 
cated to  the  pel-fluent  blood. 

To  this  may  be  added,  that  every  propulsion  of  the  blood  by  the 
contraction  of  the  heart,  distends  the  arteries,  which  contract  again  in 
the  intermission,  and  this  distension  and  contraction  of  the  arteries 
may  occasion  heat  in  them,  which  they  must  likewise  communicate  to 
the  blood  that  flows  through  them. 

That  these  causes  of  the  heat  of  the  blood  are  sufficient  to  produce 
the  effect,  may  appear  probable,  if  we  consider  that  a fluid  once  warm 


22 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


requires  no  more  heat  to  be  applied  to  it  in  any  part  of  time  to  keep  it 
warm,  than  what  it  shall  lose  in  an  equal  part  of  time.  A smaller  force 
will  keep  a pendulum  going,  than  what  first  set  it  in  motion. 

The  blood,  thus  warmed  in  the  heart,  carries  warmth  with  it  to 
the  very  extremities  of  the  body,  and  communicates  it  to  them;  but,  as 
by  the  means  its  heat  is  gradually  diminished,  it  is  returned  again  to 
the  heart  by  the  veins  for  a fresh  calefaction. 

The  blood  communicates  its  heat,  not  only  to  the  solids  of  our  body, 
but  to  our  clothes  and  to  a portion  of  the  circumambient  air.  Every 
breath,  though  drawn  in  cold,  is  expired  warm,  and  every  particle  of  the 
materia  perspirabilis  carries  off  with  it  a portion  of  heat. 

While  the  blood  retains  a due  fluidity,  it  passes  freely  through  the 
minutest  vessels  and  communicates  a proper  warmth  to  the  extremities 
of  the  body.  But  when  by  any  means  it  becomes  viscid,  as  not  to  be 
capable  of  passing  those  minute  vessels,  the  extremities,  as  the  blood 
can  bring  no  more  heat  to  them,  grow  cold. 

The  same  viscidity  in  the  blood  and  juices  checks  or  stops  the  per- 
spiration, by  clogging  the  perspiratory  ducts,  or,  perhaps,  by  not  ad- 
mitting the  perspirable  parts  to  separate.  Paper  wet  with  size  and  water 
will  not  dry  as  soon  as  if  wet  with  water  only. 

A vessel  of  hot  water,  if  the  vapour  can  freely  pass  from  it  soon 
cools.  If  there  be  just  fire  enough  under  it  to  add  continually  the  heat 
it  loses,  it  retains  the  same  degree,  If  the  vessel  be  closed,  so  that  the 
vapour  may  be  retained,  there  will  from  the  same  fire  be  a continual 
accession  of  heat  to  the  water,  till  it  rises  to  a great  degree.  Or,  if 
no  fire  be  under  it,  it  will  retain  the  heat  it  first  had  for  a long  time. 
I have  experienced,  that  a bottle  of  hot  water  stopped,  and  put  in  my 
bed  at  night,  has  retained  so  much  heat  seven  or  eight  hours  that  I could 
not,  in  the  morning,  bear  my  foot  against  it,  without  some  of  the  bed- 
clothes intervening. 

During  the  cold  fit,  then,  perspiration  being  stopped,  great  part  of 
the  heat  of  the  blood,  that  used  to  be  dissipated,  is  confined  and  retained 
in  the  body;  the  heart  continues  its  motion,  and  creates  a constant 
accession  to  that  heat;  the  inward  parts  grow  very  hot,  and,  by  contact 
with  the  extremities,  communicate  that  heat  to  them.  The  glue  of  the 
blood  is  by  this  heat  dissolved,  and  the  blood  afterwards  flows  freely, 
as  before  the  disorder. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamm  Franklin 


23 


To  the  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson^  he  freely  gives  medical  advice  and 
good  sensible  advice  it  is : 

Philadelphia,  September,  1750. 

Dear  Sir: 

I am  sorry  to  hear  of  your  illness.  If  you  have  not  been  used  to  the 
fever-and-ague  let  me  give  you  one  caution.  Don’t  imagine  yourself 
thoroughly  cured,  and  so  omit  the  use  of  the  bark  too  soon.  Remember 
to  take  the  preventing  doses  faithfully.  If  you  were  to  continue  taking 
a dose  or  two  every  day  for  two  or  three  weeks  after  the  fits  have  left 
you,  ’twould  not  be  amiss.  If  you  take  the  powder  mixed  quick  in  a 
tea-cup  of  milk,  ’tis  no  way  disagreeable,  but  looks  and  even  tastes  like 
chocolate.  ’Tis  an  old  saying,  that  an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth 
a pound  of  cure,  and  certainly  a true  one,  with  regard  to  the  bark;  a 
little  of  which  will  do  more  in  preventing  the  fits  than  a great  deal  in 
removing  them. 

But  if  your  health  would  permit,  I should  not  expect  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  you  soon.  The  smallpox  spreads  apace,  and  is  now  in  all 
quarters;  yet,  as  we  have  only  children  to  have  it,  and  the  Doctors 
inoculate  apace,  I believe  they  will  soon  drive  it  through  the  town,  so 
that  you  may  possibly  visit  us  with  safety  in  the  spring. 

Franklin  was  a good  prognostician  judging  from  his  letter  to  Jared 
Eliot  in  which  he  says: 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  10,  1751. 

Dear  Sir: 

The  Rector  of  our  Academy,  Mr.  Martin,  came  over  into  this  country 
on  a Scheme  for  making  Potash,  in  the  Russian  method.  He  Promis’d 
me  some  written  Directions  for  you,  which  expecting  daily,  I delay’d 
writing,  and  now  he  lies  dangerously  ill  of  a kind  of  Quinsey.  The 
Surgeons  have  been  oblig’d  to  open  his  Windpipe,  and  introduce  a 
leaden  Pipe  for  him  to  breathe  thro’.  I fear  he  will  not  recover.  . . . 

* Samuel  Johnson,  1696-1772,  of  Stratford,  Connecticut,  scholar  and  divine. 
In  1743  was  given  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Oxford.  Franklin  went 
to  Stratford  to  trj^  and  persuade  Johnson  to  accept  the  position  as  head  of  the  Acad- 
emy, which  later  became,  as  is  well  known,  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
he  became  President  of  King’s  College,  later  Columbia.  Mr.  David  Martin  was 
the  Rector  or  chief  professor.  Dr.  Johnson  later  suggested  the  name  of  William 
Smith  as  a likely  man  and  he  was  chosen  the  first  Provost  of  the  College  and  Academy 
of  Philadelphia. 


24 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


He  tells  us  of  the  fulfilment  of  this  prophecy  in  a letter  to  Samuel 
Johnson,  D.D. 

Philadelphia,  December  24,  1751. 

I wrote  to  you  in  my  last  that  Mr.  Martin,  our  Rector,  died  suddenly 
of  a quinsey.  . . . 

/ A sentence  in  a letter  to  Cadwallader  Golden  shows  Franklin’s  interest 
/ in  therapeutics. 

Philadelphia,  April  23,  ’52. 

. . . I am  heartily  glad  to  hear  more  Instances  of  the  success  of 

the  Poke-Weed,  in  the  Cure  of  that  horrible  Evil  to  the  human  Body,  a 
Cancer. 

/Another  reference  to  smallpox  appears  in  the  following  letter,  and 
demonstrates  very  plainly  how  closely  Franklin  studied  this  subject. 

Philadelphia,  Aug.  13,  1752. 

To  John  Perkins, 

Sir: 

I received  your  favor  of  the  3rd  instant.  Some  time  last  winter  I 
procured  from  one  of  our  physicians  an  account  of  the  number  of  persons 
inoculated  during  the  five  visitations  of  the  small-pox  we  have  had  in 
22  years;  which  account  I sent  to  Mr.  W.  V.,  of  your  town,  and  have 
no  copy.  If  I remember  right,  the  number  exceeded  800,  and  the  deaths 
were  but  4.  I suppose  Mr.  V.  will  shew  you  the  account,  if  he  ever 
received  it.  Those  four  were  all  that  our  doctors  allow  to  have  died 
of  the  small-pox  by  inoculation,  though  I think  there  were  two  more 
of  the  inoculated  who  died  of  the  distemper,  but  the  eruptions  appearing 
soon  after  the  operation,  it  is  supposed  they  had  taken  the  infection  before 
in  the  common  way. 

I shall  be  glad  to  see  what  Dr.  Douglas  may  write  on  the  subject. 
I have  a French  piece  printed  at  Paris,  1724,  entitled  Observations 
sur  la  Saignee  du  Pied,  et  sur  la  Purgation,  au  commencement  de  la 
Petite  Verole,  et  Raisons  de  Doubte  contre  V Inoculation.  A letter  of  the 
doctor’s  is  mentioned  in  it.  If  he  or  you  have  it  not,  and  desire  to  see 
it,  I will  send  it.  Please  to  favour  me  with  the  particulars  of  your 
purging  method,  to  prevent  the  secondary  fever.  . . . 

On  February  17,  1752,  John  Perkins  had  written  to  Franklin  telling 
him  that  Boston  was  threatened  with  an  epidemic  of  small-pox  and  that 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


25 


some  people  Avere  trying  tar-water  as  a preventative.  He  would 
gladly  try  anything  Mr.  Franklin  may  have  heard  of. 

The  next  letter  is  worth  quoting  in  full,  giving  as  it  does  an  account  ! 
of  Franklin’s  invention  of  a flexible  catheter:  ^ 

Philadelphia,  December  8,  1752. 

To  John  Franklin, 

Dear  Brother: 

Reflecting  yesterday  on  your  desire  to  haA-e  a flexible  catheter,  a thought 
struck  into  my  mind,  how  one  might  probably  be  made,  and  lest  you 
should  not  readily  conceiA'e  it  by  any  description  of  mine,  I went  immedi-  17  -^ 
ately  to  the  silA'er-smith’s  and  gaA^e  directions  for  making  one  (sitting 
by  till  it  was  finished),  that  it  might  be  ready  for  this  post.  But  now 
it  is  done  I liaA’e  some  apprehensions  that  it  may  be  too  large  to  be  easy; 
if  so,  a sih’er-smith  can  easily  make  it  less  by  twisting  or  turning  it  on 
a smaller  wire,  and  putting  a smaller  pipe  to  the  end,  if  the  pipe  is  really 
necessary.  This  machine  may  either  be  covered  with  small  fine  gut, 
first  cleaned  and  soaked  a night  in  a solution  of  alum  and  salt  and  water, 
then  rubbed  dry,  which  Avill  preseiwe  it  longer  from  putrefaction;  then 
wet  again  and  drawn  on  and  tied  to  the  pipes  at  each  end,  where  little 
hollows  are  made  for  the  thread  to  bind  in  and  the  surface  greased. 

Or  perhaps,  it  may  be  used  without  the  gut,  having  only  a little  tallow 
rubbed  OA^er  it,  to  smooth  it  and  fill  the  joints.  I think  it  is  as  flexible 
as  would  be  expected  in  a thing  of  the  kind,  and  I imagine  Avill  readily 
comply  with  the  turns  of  the  passage,  yet  has  stiffness  enough  to  be  pro- 
truded; if  not,  the  enclosed  Avire  may  be  used  to  stiffen  the  hinder  part 
of  the  pipe  while  the  forepart  is  pushed  forward,  and  as  it  proceeds  the 
wire  may  be  gradually  withdrawn.  The  tube  is  of  such  a nature,,  that  1 
when  you  occasion  to  withdraw  it  its  diameter  will  lessen,  whereby’  it  j 
will  moA'e  more  easily.  It  is  a kind  of  screw  and  may  be  both  Avithdrawn 
and  introduced  by  turning.  Experience  is  necessary  for  the  right  using 
of  all  new  tools  or  instruments,  and  that  will  perhaps  suggest  some 
improA^ements  to  this  instrument  as  well  as  better  direct  the  manner  of 
using  it. 

I have  read  Whytt^  on  Lime-Water.  You  desire  my  thought  on  Avhat 

1 Robert  Whytt  (1714^1766),  President  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians,  of 
Edinburgh,  author  of,  “On  the  Virtues  of  Lime  Water  in  the  Cure  of  Stone.”  His 
treatment  for  stone  was  simply  lime  water  and  soap. 


26 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


he  says.  But  what  can  I say?  He  relates  facts  and  experiments, 
and  they  must  be  allowed  good,  if  not  contradicted  by  other  facts  and 
experiments.  May  not  one  guess,  by  holding  limewater  some  time 
in  one’s  mouth  whether  it  is  likely  to  injure  the  bladder? 

I know  not  what  to  advise,  either  as  to  the  injection  or  the  opera- 
tion. I can  only  pray  to  God  to  direct  you  for  the  best  and  to  grant 
success. 

I am,  my  dear  brother,  yours  most  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 

I found  Whytt’s  experiments  are  approved  and  recommended  by 
Dr.  Mead. 


He  never  missed  an  opportunity  to  stock  his  mind  with  information 
about  even  the  simplest  matters  of  living  and  health. 

Philadelphia,  June  6,  1753. 

To  Joseph  Huey, 

Sir; 

I received  your  kind  Letter  of  the  2d  inst,  and  am  glad  to  hear  that 
you  increase  in  Strength;  I hope  you  will  continue  mending,  ’till  you 
recover  your  former  Health  and  firmness.  Let  me  know  whether  you 
still  use  the  Cold  Bath,  and  what  Effect  it  has.  . . . 


There  are  several  references  to  Franklin’s  treating  patients  with 
‘ ' appears  in  a letter  to  John  Lining  under  date  of 

- hlarch  18,  1755,  in  which  he  says: 


. . . You  suppose  it  a dangerous  experiment,  but  I had  once 

suffered  the  same  myself,  receiving  by  accident,  an  equal  stroke  through 
my  head,  that  struck  me  down,  without  hurting  me;  and  I had  seen  a 
young  woman,  that  was  about  to  be  electrified  through  the  feet,  (for 
some  indisposition)  receive  a greater  charge  through  the  head,  by  in- 
advertently stooping  forward  to  look  at  the  placing  of  her  feet,  till  her 
forehead  (as  she  was  very  tall)  came  too  near  my  prime-conductor 
She  dropt,  but  instantly  got  up  again,  complaining  of  nothing.  . . . 


A curious  reference  is  the  following: 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


27 


Philadelphia,  June  26,  1755. 

To  Peter  Collinson.^ 

Please  to  give  the  enclos’d  concerning  an  extraordinary  Worm  bred 
in  a Woman’s  Liver  to  Dr.  Clephane^  . . . 

In  1754  Dr.  Thomas  Bond  published  in  Vol.  I of  The  Medical  Observa- 
tions and  Inquiries,  an  article  entitled  “A  Worm,  and  a Horrid  One, 
Found  in  the  Liver.”  This  was  written  in  the  form  of  a letter  to  Dr. 
Clephane. 

A sample  of  Franklin’s  medical  treatment  is  here  shown: 

Frederictown,  Virgmia,  March  21,  1756.  Sunday. 

To  Mrs.  Deborah  Franklin, 

My  Dear  Child: 

We  got  here  yesterday  Afternoon,  and  purpose  sailing  to-day  if  the 
Wind  be  fair.  Peter  was  taken  ill  with  a Fever  and  Pain  in  his  Side 
before  I got  to  Newcastle.  I had  him  blooded  there,  and  put  him  into 
the  Chair  wrapt  up  warm,  as  he  could  not  bear  the  Motion  of  the  Horse, 
and  got  him  here  pretty  comfortably.  He  went  immediately  to  bed,  and 
took  some  Camomile  Tea,  and  this  Morning  is  about  again  and  almost 
well. 


The  next  reference  to  the  treatment  of  cases  of  nervous  diseases  by 
electricity  is  given  in  a letter  to  John  Pringle®  in  which  Franklin  describes 

' Peter  Collinson,  1693-1768,  English  naturalist.  Member  of  Royal  Society.  Did 
much  for  the  Philadelphia  Library.  Franklin’s  first  papers  on  Electricity  were 
originally  communicated  to  him  and  were  presented  by  him  before  the  Royal 
Society.  “Experiments  and  Observations  on  Electricity,  made  at  Philadelphia, 
in  America,  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  London:  E.  Cave,  1751.”  This  pamphlet 
was  given  to  the  press  by  Collinson  and  again,  “Supplemental  Experiments  and 
Observations  on  Electricity,  Part  II,  made  at  Philadelphia  in  America,  by  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Esq.,  and  communicated  in  several  Letters  to  P.  Collinson,  Esq.,  of  London, 
F.R.S.  London:  E.  Cave,  1753.” 

^ Dr.  John  Clephane  . . . 1758,  Physician  to  St.  George’s  Hospital. 

^ Sir  John  Pringle,  1707-1782.  A British  physician  born  in  Scotland,  Chief 
Physician  to  the  Army  in  Flanders,  Physician  to  the  Queen,  President  of  the  Royal 
Society  from  1772  until  1778,  when  he  resigned  upon  the  King’s  suggestion.  The 
story  being  that  the  question  arose  as  to  the  relative  merits  of  sharp  or  blunt  points 
on  the  proposed  lightning  rods  of  Kew  Palace.  The  King  and  his  friends  beUeved 
in  blimt  points,  while  the  scientists  held  that  sharp  points  would  be  preferable. 
Pringle  was  asked  by  the  King  for  his  opinion,  and  was  given  to  understand  that  he 


28 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Ij  his  method  of  treatment  and  his  candid  opinion  upon  the  results  to  be 
!!  expected.  A thoroughly  unbiased  opinion  it  seems  to  be. 

A very  interesting  letter: 

Craven  Street,  Dec.  21,  1757. 

To  John  Pringle, 

Sir: 

In  compliance  with  your  request,  I send  you  the  following  account  of 
what  I can  at  present  recollect  relating  to  the  effects  of  electricity  in 
paralytic  cases,  which  have  fallen  under  my  observation. 

Some  years  since,  when  the  newspapers  made  mention  of  great  cures 
performed  in  Italy  and  Germany,  by  means  of  electricity,  a number  of 
paralytics  were  brought  to  me  from  different  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  neighboring  provinces,  to  be  electrised,  which  I did  for  them  at 
, their  request.  My  method  was,  to  place  the  patient  first  in  a chair,  on 
|;  an  electric  stool,  and  draw  a number  of  large  sparks  from  all  parts  of 
the  affected  limb  or  side.  Then  I fully  charged  two  six  gallon  glass 
I jars,  each  of  which  had  about  three  square  feet  of  surface  coated,  and  I 
sent  the  united  shock  of  these  through  the  affected  limb  or  limbs,  re- 
' peating  the  stroke  commonly  three  times  each  day.  The  first  thing 
observed,  was  an  immediate  greater  sensible  warmth  in  the  lame  limbs 
that  had  received  the  stroke,  than  in  the  others;  and  the  next  morning  the 
patients  usually  related,  that  they  had  in  the  night  felt  a pricking  sen- 
sation in  the  flesh  of  the  paralytic  limbs;  and  would  sometimes  shew  a 
number  of  small  red  spots,  which  they  supposed  were  occasioned  by  those 
prickings.  The  limbs,  too,  were  found  more  capable  of  voluntary 
motion,  and  seemed  to  receive  strength.  A man,  for  instance,  who  could 
not,  the  first  day,  lift  the  lame  hand  from  off  his  knee,  would  the  next 
day  raise  it  four  or  five  inches,  the  third  day  higher,  and  on  the  fifth 
day  was  able  but  with  a feeble  languid  motion,  to  take  off  his  hat. 

(should  decide  for  blunt  points.  This  Sir  John  refused  to  do,  and  hinted  that  the 
laws  of  nature  were  not  changeable  at  Royal  pleasure;  and  so  he  lost  his  place  as 
President.  An  epigram  written  by  some  wit  of  the  time  describes  this  squabble: 

“ While  you,  great  George,  for  safety  hunt. 

And  sharp  conductors  change  for  blunt. 

The  nations  out  of  joint. 

Franklin  a wiser  course  pursues. 

And  all  your  thunder  fearless  views. 

By  keeping  to  the  point.” 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


29 


These  appearances  gave  great  spirits  to  the  patients,  and  made  them 
hope  a perfect  cure;  but  I do  not  remember  that  I ever  saw  any  amend-  - 
ment  after  the  fifth  day,  which  the  patients  perceiving,  and  finding  the 
shocks  pretty  severe,  they  became  discouraged,  went  home,  and  in  a oJ'--  3'- 
short  time  relapsed,  so  that  I never  knew  any  advantage  from  electricity 
in  Palsies  that  was  permanent.  And  how  far  the  apparent  temporary 
advantage  might  arise  from  the  exercise  in  the  patents’  journey  coming 
daily  to  my  house,  or  from  the  spirits  given  by  the  hope  of  success  enabling 
them  to  exert  more  strength  in  moving  their  limbs,  I will  not  pretend  to 


7 


say. 

Perhaps  some  permanent  advantage  might  have  been  obtained,  if  I 
the  electric  shocks  had  been  accompanied  with  proper  medicine  and  ' 
regimen,  under  the  direction  of  a skillful  physician.  It  may  be,  too, 
that  a few  great  strokes,  as  given  in  my  method,  may  not  be  so  proper 
as  many  small  ones,  since,  by  the  account  from  Scotland  of  a case  in^’ 
which  two  hundred  shocks  from  a phial  were  given  daily,  it  seems,  I 
that  a perfect  cure  has  been  made.  As  to  any  uncommon  strength 
supposed  to  be  in  the  machine  used  in  that  case,  I imagine  it  could  have 
no  share  in  the  effect  produced,  since  the  strength  of  the  shock  from 
charged  glass  is  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  surface  of  the  glass 
coated,  so  that  my  shocks  from  those  large  jars  must  have  been  much 
greater  than  any  that  could  be  received  from  a phial  held  in  the  hand. 

I am,  with  great  respect.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

B.  Franklin. 


That  Sir  John  thought  well  of  Franklin’s  views  on  this  subject  is 
apparent  in  this  letter  that  he  WTOte  him. 


Dear  Sir: 

I take  the  liberty  to  beg  that  you  would  come  as  soon  as  you  can  to  I 
the  Duke  of  Ancaster’s  in  Berkely  Square,  as  His  Grace  and  the  Duchess 
are  in  the  greatest  distress  about  their  daughter,  who  has  been  long  in 
a most  miserable  condition  with  spasms  and  convulsions.  After  all  that 
we  have  done,  the  distemper  remains  obstinate  and  therefore  the  Parents 
have  thought  of  electrifying  Her.  I have  recommended  the  operation 
to  be  performed  by  Spence  and  the  rather  as  the  present  spasm  has  shut 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


the  young  Lady’s  jaw  and  deprived  Her  both  of  speech  and  swallowing. 
I ventured  to  name  you  as  the  person  most  proper  for  directing  the 
operation,  trusting  to  your  friendship  to  me  and  humanity  towards  the 
distressed.  Their  Graces  both  join  in  begging  this  favour,  and  I gave 
them  hopes  that  you  would  not  refuse  it. 

I am  Dr  Sir, 

Your  most  affectionate  humble  servant 

John  Pringle. 


Fig.  7. — Sir  John  Pringle,  M.D.  Engraved  by  Mote,  after  the  painting  by 
Sir  Joshua  Reynolds. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


31 


Berkeley  Square,  Friday,  11  o’cl. 

As  the  young  lady  is  at  Chelsea,  the  Duke’s  coach  is  sent  to  bring ' 
you  first  to  the  Duke’s  house  in  Berkeley  Square  and  afterwards  to 
Chelsea. 

In  a very  long  letter  to  John  Lining^  under  date  of  June  17,  1758, 
in  which  Franklin  discusses  the  subject  of  evaporation  and  its  effect 
upon  bodily  temperature,  a very  readable  discourse,  but  too  long  for^ 
quotation,  he  ends  with  the  to  him  never-to-be-neglected  practical  side 
of  the  subject  thus: 

. . . To  these  queries  of  imagination,  I will  only  add  one  practical 

observation,  that  where  ever  it  is  thought  proper  to  give  ease,  in  cases 
of  painful  infiamation  in  the  flesh  (as  from  burnings,  or  the  like),  by 
cooling  the  part,  linen  cloths  wet  with  spirit,  and  applied  to  the  part 
inflamed,  will  produce  the  coolness  required,  better  than  if  wet  with 
water,  and  will  continue  it  longer.  For  water,  though  cold  when  first 
applied,  will  soon  acquire  warmth  from  the  flesh,  as  it  does  not  evapor- 
ate fast  enough,  but  the  cloths  wet  with  spirit,  will  continue  cold  as  long 
as  any  spirit  is  left  to  keep  up  the  evaporation,  the  parts  warmed  escaping 
as  soon  as  they  are  warmed,  and  carrying  off  the  heat  with  them. 

I am.  Sir,  etc., 

B.  F. 

The  following  quotation  from  George  W.  Norris’  The  Early  History 
of  Medicine  in  Philadelphia,  published  in  1886,  shows  Franklin’s 
interest  in  inoculation  and  how  he  helped  the  good  cause. 

“Inoculation,  however,  did  not  make  that  progress  among  the  people 
which  was  looked  for,  and  Dr.  Franklin,  at  that  time  in  London,  who 
was  now  a warm  upholder  of  the  practice,  believing  that  the  expense  of 
the  operation,  which  he  says  ‘was  pretty  high  in  some  parts  of  America,’ 
might  have  been  in  the  way  of  its  adoption,  judged  that  a pamphlet 
written  by  a skilful  practitioner,  showing  what  preparation  should  be 
used  before  the  inoculation  of  children,  and  the  precaution  necessary 
to  avoid  giving  the  infection  at  the  same  time  in  the  common  way, 
how  the  operation  was  to  be  performed  and  ‘on  the  appearance  of  what 
symptoms  a physician  was  to  be  called,’  might  be  a means  of  removing 

' Dr.  John  Lining,  1708-1760,  practised  medicine  in  Charlestown,  South  Carolina. 
Wrote  in  1753  a “History  of  Yellow  Fever.” 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


that  objection  of  expense,  render  its  adoption  more  general,  and  thereby 
save  the  lives  of  thousands,  'prevailed  upon  Dr.  William  Heberden' 
to  write  some  account  of  the  success  of  Innoculation,  and  Plain  Instruc- 


Fig.  8. — Dr.  William  Heberden.  Engraved  by  J.  Thomson,  from  the 
portrait  by  Sir  W.  Beechey. 

tions  for  the  same,’  and  that  gentleman  generously,  at  his  own  expense, 
printed  a very  large  impression  of  the  work,  which  was  distributed  in 
America.  It  was  handsomely  issued  in  a cjuarto  form  in  1759.” 

1 William  Heberden,  1710-1801.  An  eminent  English  physician.  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Society.  Great  classical  scholar.  Author  of  “Medical  Commentaries.” 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


33 


A number  of  Franklin’s  letters  to  Miss  Stevenson^  contain  pertinent 
allusions  to  medicine,  among  them  the  example  here  copied: 


Fig.  9. — Dinner  Invitation  of  Dr.  Heberden  to  Franklin.  From  the  original 
in  the  possession  of  the  author. 


Craven  St.,  Aug.  10,  1761. 

Dear  Polly. 

I have  a singular  Opinion  on  this  subject,  which  I will  venture  to  com- 
municate to  you,  tho’  I doubt  you  will  rank  it  among  my  Whims.  It 
is  certain  that  the  Skin  has  imbibing  as  well  as  discharging  pores, 
witness  the  Effect  of  a Blister  Plaister,  etc.  I have  read,  that  a Man, 
hired  by  a physician  to  stand  by  way  of  Experiment  in  the  open  Air 
naked  during  a moist  Night,  weighed  near  3 Pounds  heavier  in  the 
jNIorning.  I have  often  observed  myself,  that  however  thirsty  I may 
have  been  going  into  the  Water  to  swim,  I am  never  so  in  the  Water. 
These  imbibing  Pores,  however,  are  very  fine,  perhaps  fine  enough  in 
filtring  to  separate  Salt  from  Water,  for,  tho’  I have  soak’d  by  Swimming, 
when  a Boy,  several  Hours  in  the  Day  for  several  Days  successively 
in  Salt  water,  I never  found  my  Blood  and  Juices  salted  by  that  means, 
so  as  to  make  me  thirsty  or  feel  a salt  Taste  in  my  Mouth;  and  it  is  re- 
markable, that  the  Flesh  of  the  Sea  Fish,  tho’  bred  in  Salt  Water,  is  not 
Salt. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Stevenson  kept  a boarding  house  at  No.  7 Craven  St.,  London, 
and  here  Benjamin  Frankhn  hved  during  the  fifteen  years  of  his  stay  in  London. 
Her  daughter,  Mary  Stevenson,  was  a great  friend  of  Benjamin  Frankhn’s  and  to 
her  he  wrote  many  of  his  most  interesting  and  dehghtful  letters.  Miss  Stevenson 
married  Dr.  Wm.  Hewson,  and  after  her  husband’s  death,  at  Dr.  Franklin’s  sugges- 
tion, she  removed  with  her  children  to  Philadelphia. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Hence  I imagine,  that,  if  People  at  sea,  distress’d  by  Thirst  when  their 
fresh  Water  is  unfortunately  spent,  would  make  Bathing  Tubs  of  their 
empty  Water-Casks,  and,  filling  them  with  Sea  Water,  sit  in  them  an 
hour  or  two  each  Day,  they  might  be  greatly  reliev’d.  Perhaps  keeping 
their  Clothes  constantly  wet  might  have  an  almost  equal  Effect,  and  this 
without  Danger  of  catching  cold.  IMen  do  not  catch  Cold  by  wet 


Fig.  10. — Dr.  William  Shippen,  Jr.  Etched  by  H.  Wright  Smith  after  the 
painting  by  Stuart. 

Clothes  at  Sea.  Damp,  but  not  wet  Linen  may  possibly  give  Colds, 
but  no  one  catches  cold  by  Bathing,  and  no  Clothes  can  be  wetter  than 
Water  itself.  \^Tiy  damp  Clothes  should  then  occasion  Colds,  is  a 
curious  Question,  the  Discussion  of  which  I reserve  for  a future  Letter 
or  some  future  Conversation. 

Adieu  my  dear  Little  Philosopher.  Present  my  respectful  Compli- 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


35 


merits  to  the  good  Ladies,  your  Aunts,  and  to  Miss  Pitt,  and  believe 
me  ever.  Your  affectionate  Friend, 

and  Humble  Servant, 

B.  Franklin. 

The  following  letter  demonstrates  how  much  Dr.  Shippen^  and  Dr. 
Morgan  were  indebted  for  their  reception  in  Edinburgh,  where  they  both 
graduated.  x'Vs  is  of  course  welt  known,  these  two  young  men  were  the 


Fig.  11. — Dr.  John  Morgan.  Etched  by  H.  B.  Hall  after  the  portrait  by  Angehca 
Kauffman  in  the  possession  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

^ WiUiam  Shippen,  Jr.,  1736-1808.  Graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey 
and  then  went  abroad,  receiving  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  the  University 
of  Edinburgh  in  1762.  He  studied  Anatomy  with  John  Hunter,  and  Midwifery 
imder  William  Himter  and  Dr.  McKenzie.  On  his  return  home  in  1762,  he  dehvered 
private  courses  of  lectmes  upon  Anatomy,  with  dissections,  and  upon  Midwifery, 
which  were  the  first  given  in  this  country.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  insti- 
tuting the  practice  of  this  branch  of  medicine  among  physicians.  On  September^ 
17,  1765,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery  in  the  College  of 
Philadelphia.  In  1777  he  was  appointed  by  Congress  to  succeed  Dr.  Morgan  as 
Director  General  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Army. 


36  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


founders  of  the  present  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

London,  Oct.  21,  1761. 


To  William  Cullen, ' M.D. 

. . . I thank  you  for  the  civilities  you  were  so  good  as  to  shew  my 

friend,  Mr.  Shippen,  whom  I took  the  liberty  of  recommending  to  your 
notice  the  last  year.  The  bearer,  Mr.  Morgan,  who  purposes  to  reside 


0 . {('ADjpjfLU  uamffXmmp 

IIIOIII  l(.  III 

ta.  ;'^,iiniBiK  ni'5ifc^miT)atror(:|.^v.?r^  nantit 

artio,  lolomitullint  n'u  ]K||cti|/c^<Kl4m 

Wnii.  todmk  aiaaja  ndi^d.  ianmmiJofei. 

cm  (Krti-i  coiikS  %«i»s  m Mi^r  t&t  piw  |!i(illM"o^r»'^ 


Fig.  12. — Dr.  John  Morgan’s  Diploma  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 

From  the  original  in  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia. 

some  time  in  Edinburgh  for  the  completion  of  his  studies  in  Physic, 
is  a young  gentleman  of  Philadelphia,  whom  I have  long  known  and 
greatly  esteem;  and  as  I interest  myself  in  what  relates  to  him,  I cannot 
but  wish  him  the  advantage  of  your  conversation  and  instructions.  I 

* WilUam  Cullen,  1712-1790.  A great  physician,  born  in  Scotland,  who  began 
life  as  a poor  barber,  became  an  apothecary,  then  a ship  surgeon,  then  the  surgeon 
to  a small  village,  later  professor  of  chemistry  and  then  of  Medicine  in  Glasgow,  and 
finally  held  the  same  positions  successively  at  Edinburgh.  Founder  of  a system 
of  medicine  called  Sohdism.  Author  of  a number  of  medical  works. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


37 


wish  it  also  for  the  sake  of  my  country,  where  he  is  to  reside,  and  where 
I am  persuaded  he  Avill  be  not  a little  useful.  I am,  with  the  greatest 
esteem  and  respect.  Dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble 


B.  Franklin. 


servant. 


Again  in  another  letter  Dr.  Franklin  introduced  John  Morgan^ 
to  Lord  Karnes^  in  the  folloAving  words : 


Morgan,  to  your  Lordship’s  protection.  He  purposes  residing  some 
time  in  Edinburgh,  to  improA^e  himself  in  the  study  of  physic,  and  I 
think  Avill  one  day  make  a good  figure  in  the  profession,  and  be  of  some 
credit  to  the  school  he  studies  in,  if  great  industry  and  application, 
joined  with  natural  genius  and  sagacity,  afford  any  foundation  for  the 
presage.  He  is  a son  of  a friend  and  near  neighbor  of  mine  in  Phila- 
delphia, so  that  I haA’e  knoAvn  him  from  a child,  and  am  confident  the 
same  excellent  dispositions,  good  morals,  and  prudent  behaviour,  that 
haA-e  procured  him  the  esteem  and  affection  of  all  that  knew  him  in  his 
OAvn  country,  will  render  him  not  unworthy  the  regard,  adAuce,  and 
countenance  your  Lordship  may  be  so  good  as  to  afford  him.  . . . 

' John  Morgan,  1735-1789.  Graduated  in  1757  from  the  College  of  Philadelphia 
in  the  first  class  that  received  hterary  honours  in  that  institution.  Spent  six  years 
apprenticeship  with  Dr.  John  Redman.  Served  four  years  in  the  Army  as  Surgeon 
during  the  French  war.  Went  to  Europe  in  1760  and  worked  under  Dr.  Wilham 
Hunter.  Graduated  in  1763  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  He  then  traveled 
through  France  and  Italy.  While  abroad  he  was  made  a Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society, 
member  of  the  Belles  Lettres  Society  of  Rome,  and  a licentiate  of  the  Royal  Colleges 
of  Physicians  of  London  and  Edinburgh.  Returned  to  Philadelphia  in  1765  and 
began  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  did  away  with  the  custom  of  Physicians  dis-| 
pensing  their  OAvn  drugs,  bringing  an  apothecary  with  him  from  England.  Onf 
May  3,  1765,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic  in  the  I 
College  of  Philadelphia  thereby  being  entitled  to  be  called  the  founder  of  Public  / 
Medical  Instruction  in  the  United  States.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  foundation 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  In  1772  he  went  to  Jamaica  and  raised 
about  two  thousand  pounds  for  the  College.  In  1775  he  was  appointed  by  Congress, 
Director  General  to  the  Military  Hospitals,  and  Physician-in-Chief  to  the  American 
Army  and  immediately  joined  Washington  at  Cambridge.  In  1777  he  was  dismissed 
from  the  service,  being  blamed  for  the  inefficiency  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the 
Army.  In  1779  a committee  appointed  by  Congress,  however,  thoroughly  vindi-l 
cated  Dr.  Morgan.  He  was  physician  to  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  for  many  years.' 

^ Henry  Home,  Lord  Kames,  1696-1782.  A celebrated  Scottish  judge  and  author. 


THE  MEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  William  Pepper,  M.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathology,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

A REFERENCE  ill  the  following  letter  shows  who  were  his  medical 
friends  in  Edinburgh. 

Phila.,  Dec.  11,  1763. 

To  Sir  Alexander  Dick. 

Be  pleased  to  present  my  Respects  to  our  Friends  the  Russels,*  when 
you  see  them,  to  the  two  Doctors  Alonro,^  Dr.  Cullen,  Dr.  Clark,  M. 
M’Gawn,  and  any  others  who  may  do  me  the  Honour  to  enquire  after 

me.  . . . 


To  his  good  friend.  Dr.  Fothergill,  Benjamin  Franklin  wrote  this 
humorous  letter  . . . 


March  14,  1764. 

To  John  Fothergill,  M.D.® 

Dear  Doctor:  I received  your  favour  of  the  10th  of  December. 
It  was  a great  deal  for  one  to  write  whose  time  was  so  little  his  own. 
By  the  way,  when  do  you  intend  to  live?  i.  e.,  to  enjoy  life.  When 
will  you  retire  to  your  villa,  give  yourself  repose,  delight  in  viewing 
the  operations  of  nature  in  the  vegetable  creation,  assist  her  in  her 
works,  get  your  ingenious  friends  at  times  about  you,  make  them  happy 


' Alexander  Russell,  1715-1768,  had  been  physician  to  the  English  factory  at 
Aleppo.  He  wrote  the  “Natural  History  of  Aleppo,”  and  was  elected  F.R.S.  in 
1756. 

^ Alexander  Monro,  Primus,  1697-1767.  An  eminent  physician  and  anatomist. 
He  was  instrumental  in  founding  the  Medical  School  of  Edinburgh  where  he  was 
Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery.  He  was  a Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
London  and  a member  of  the  Academy  of  Surgery  in  Paris.  Alexander  Monro, 
Secundus,  1732-1817.  Son  of  the  preceding,  whom  he  succeeded  in  the  Chair  of 
Anatomy  and  Surgery  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  in  1759. 

^ John  Fothergill,  1712-1780.  An  eminent  Quaker  physician,  born  in  Yorkshire. 
Graduated  at  Edinburgh,  settled  in  London  where  he  obtained  a large  practice. 
He  wrote  on  numerous  subjects. 


40 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


with  your  conversation,  and  enjoy  theirs;  or  if  alone,  amuse  yourself 
with  your  books  and  elegant  collections? 

To  be  hurried  about  perpetually  from  one  sick  chamber  to  another 
is  not  living.  Do  you  please  yourself  with  the  fancy  that  you  are  doing 


Fig.  13. — Dr.  Alexander  Russell.  Engraving  by  Trotter,  fiom  the  portrait 

by  Dance. 


good?  You  are  mistaken.  Half  the  lives  you  save  are  not  worth 
saving,  as  being  useless,  and  almost  all  the  other  half  ought  not  to  be 
saved,  as  being  mischievous.  Does  your  conscience  never  hint  to  you 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


41 


the  impiety  of  being  in  constant  warfare  against  the  plans  of  Providence? 
Disease  was  intended  as  the  punishment  of  intemperance,  sloth,  and 
other  vices,  and  the  example  of  that  punishment  was  intended  to  pro- 
mote and  strengthen  the  opposite  virtues.  But  here  you  step  in  offici- 
ously with  your  Art,  disappoint  those  wise  intentions  of  nature,  and 


,■/.  --/.yieng;,  Td^/c.  . 


Fig.  14. — Dr.  Alexander  Monro,  Sen.  Engraved  by  T.  Cook,  from  the 
portrait  by  Allan  Ramsay. 

make  men  safe  in  their  excesses,  whereby  you  seem  to  me  to  be  of  just 
the  same  service  to  society  as  some  favourite  first  minister  who  out 
of  the  great  benevolence  of  his  heart  should  procure  pardons  of  all 
criminals  that  applied  to  him;  only  think  of  the  consequences. 


42  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

One  more  reference  to  Dr.  John  Morgan  is  found  in  the  letter  here- 
with abbreviated,  and  also  to  another  young  medical  student  helped 
by  Dr.  Franklin. 

Cravenstreet,  London,  June  2,  1765. 

To  Sir  Alexander  Dick,^ 

Dear  Sir: 

I received  your  kind  Congratulations  on  my  Return  to  Britain,  by 
Mr.  Alexander,  which  was  very  obliging.  The  Slip  to  Dr.  Morgan 


Fig.  15. — Dr.  John  Fothergill.  From  a Wedgwood  medallion,  modelled 
by  John  Flaxman,  R.A.  In  the  author’s  collection. 

I sent  after  him  to  America,  where  I hope  he  is  safely  arrived  before 
this  time.  He  always  express’d  himself  greatly  oblig’d  to  you  for  the 

‘ Sir  Alexander  Dick,  1703-1785.  Scottish  physician.  Author  of  a treatise 
on  Epilepsy. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


43 


Notice  you  took  of  him  and  the  Countenance  you  afforded  him,  and 
I shall  always  thank  you  cordially  for  the  Regard  you  were  so  good 
as  to  pay  my  Recommendation.  I think  he  will  prove  of  great  Use 
to  his  Country  as  well  as  an  Honour  to  the  Medical  School  of  Edin- 
burgh. . . . 

. . . There  is  now  at  Edinburgh  a young  Gentleman  of  America, 

Mr.  Samuel  Bard,‘  Son  of  a Eriend  of  mine.  He  is  studying  Physic 
there.  I have  known  him  from  a Child,  and  always  had  an  Affection 
for  him,  as  he  appear’d  to  have  the  most  amiable  Dispositions.  I 
beg  your  Countenance  towards  him,  and  that  you  would  occasionally 
favour  him  with  your  Advice  in  his  Studies.  . . . 


John  Morgan  wrote  to  Dr.  Franklin  Oct.  10,  1765,  from  Philadelphia, 
and  after  thanking  him  most  warmly  for  many  kindnesses  and  especially 
for  advancing  the  money  for  his  fees  to  the  Royal  Society  to  which 
Morgan  had  just  been  elected,  said 

. . . I thank  you  also  for  your  kind  Congratulations  on  my 

being  elected  Professor  of  Medicine  in  the  College.  I shall  by  this 
vessel  send  You  a printed  Copy  of  my  Discourse  which  I shewed  you 
in  MS.  Before  I quit  this,  give  me  leave  to  inform  You  that  on  the 
5th  Ult,  I was  Marry’d  to  Miss  Molly  Hopkinson  who  is  well  and  joins 
me  in  sincere  Compliments  to  You.  Please  to  present  my  best  respects 
to  Dr.  Watson  to  whom  I would  now  write  but  for  want  of  leisure. 
I remain  with  great  respect  Sir,  Your  much  obliged  Friend  and  most 
obedient  humble  Servant 

John  Morgan. 

Phila.,  Pa.,  Oct.  10,  1765. 

The  medical  school  was  situated  in  what  was  known  as  Surgeons 
Hall  next  to  the  Philadelphia  Library,  founded  by  Dr.  Franklin. 


^ Samuel  Bard,  1742-1821.  Born  in  Philadelphia;  son  of  Dr.  John  Bard.  Studied 
at  Kings  College.  Graduated  at  Edinburgh  in  1765.  Returned  to  America  and 
was  appointed  first  Professor  of  the  Practice  of  Physic  in  the  Kings  College  upon 
the  organization  of  its  medical  department  in  1767.  He  was  instrumental  in  found- 
ing the  New  York  Hospital  and  the  Dispensary  in  the  same  city.  President  of  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  Published  in  1771  a paper  on  “Angina 
Suffocativa.” 


44 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


In  the  following  letter  Franklin  shows  strikingly  his  common  sense 
in  matters  relating  to  health. 

London,  June  13,  1766. 

To  Mrs.  Deborah  Franklin. 

. . . I am  now  nearly  well  again,  but  feeble.  To-morrow  I 
set  out  Avith  my  Friend,  Dr.  Pringle  Inow  Sir  John)  on  a Journey  to 
Pyrmont,  where  he  goes  to  drink  the  Waters,  but  I hope  more  from  the 
Air  and  Exercise,  having  been  used,  as  you  know,  to  have  a Journey 
once  a Year,  the  want  of  which  last  Year,  has,  I believe,  hurt  me,  so 
that  tho’  I was  not  quite  to  say  sick,  I was  often  ailing  last  Winter, 
and  thro’  the  Spring.  We  must  be  back  at  farthest  in  Eight  Weeks, 
as  my  Eellow  Traveller  is  the  Queen’s  Physician,  and  has  leave  for  no 
longer  as  she  will  then  be  near  her  Time.  . . . 


Fig.  16. — Library  and  Surgeons’  Hall  in  Fifth  Street,  Philadelphia 
Engraved  by  Birch. 


Very  little  is  known  of  this  journey  taken  by  Franklin  and  Pringle 
together  through  part  of  Europe.  Mr.  J.  G.  Rosengarten  in  his 
American  History  from  German  Archives  with  Reference  to  the  German 
Soldiers  in  the  Revolution  and  Franklin’s  Visit  to  Germany,  dwells 
upon  their  visit  to  Gottingen  and  the  subsequent  effect  that  this  had 
upon  the  views  held  by  the  Germans  during  the  Revolution. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  45 

No  letters  of  Franklin  exist  written  during  this  period,  and  he  makes 
no  reference  of  any  value  in  subsequent  letters  and  he  apparently  kept 
no  diary  during  the  two  months  they  were  on  the  continent.  It  was 
probably  a very  enjoyable  holiday  jaunt. 

His  interest  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  can  be  seen  by  this  excerpt 
not  to  have  flagged. 

London,  May  5,  1767. 

To  Cadwallader  Evans, ^ 

Dear  Doctor: 

. . . I am  pleased  with  your  scheme  of  a Medical  Library  at  the 
Hospital,  and  I fancy  I can  procure  you  some  donations  among  my 
medical  friends  here,  if  you  will  send  me  a catalogue  of  what  books 
you  already  have.  Enclosed  I send  you  the  only  book  of  the  kind  in 
my  possession  here,  having  just  received  it  as  a present  from  the  author. 
It  is  not  yet  published  to  be  sold,  and  will  not  be  for  some  time,  till 
the  second  part  is  ready  to  accompany  it. 

I thank  you  for  your  remarks  on  the  gout.  They  may  be  useful 
to  me,  who  have  already  had  some  touches  of  that  distemper.  As 
to  Lord  Chatham,  it  is  said  that  his  constitution  is  totally  destroyed 
and  gone,  partly  through  the  violence  of  the  disease,  and  partly  by  his 
own  continual  quacking  with  it.  There  is  at  present  no  access  to 
him.  . . . 

A light  is  thrown  by  the  following  on  Franklin’s  universal  knowledge,  f 
and  of  the  multifareous  things,  he  thought,  wrote,  and  talked  about. 
He  neglected  nothing,  and  everything  to  him  had  some  signiflcance- 
and  was  worthy  of  consideration. 


‘ Dr.  Cadwallader  Evans,  1726-1773,  was  one  of  Dr.  Thomas  Bond’s  first  pupils. 
He  then  sailed  for  England  intending  to  study  further  at  Edinburgh.  At  the  time 
war  existed  between  Spain,  France,  and  England,  and  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed 
was  captured  by  a Spanish  privateer  and  he  was  taken  to  Hayti.  He  then  went 
to  Jamaica  where  he  practiced  medicine  for  about  two  years,  when  he  sailed  for 
England.  He  spent  a year  in  Edinburgh  and  London  and  then  returned  to 
Philadelphia.  He  was  physician  to  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  from  1759  until 
his  death  in  1773.  He  was,  according  to  Franklin,  the  founder  of  the  Medical 
Library  in  that  Institution. 


46 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


London,  August  5,  1767. 

To  George  Croghan, 

Sir: 

I return  you  many  thanks  for  the  box  of  elephants’  tusks  and  grinders. 
They  are  extremely  curious  on  many  accounts;  no  living  elephants 
having  been  seen  in  any  part  of  America  by  any  of  the  Europeans 
there,  or  remembered  in  any  traditions  of  the  Indians.  It  is  also  puzzling 
to  conceive  what  should  have  brought  so  many  of  them  to  die  on  the 
same  spot,  and  that  no  such  remains  should  be  found  in  any  other 
part  of  the  continent,  except  in  that  very  distant  country,  Peru,  from 
whence  some  grinders  of  the  same  kind  formerly  brought,  are  now 
in  the  museum  of  the  Royal  Society.  The  tusks  agree  with  those  of 
the  African  and  Asiatic  elephant  in  being  nearly  of  the  same  form 
and  texture,  and  some  of  them,  notwithstanding  the  length  of  time 
they  must  have  lain,  being  still  good  ivory.  But  the  grinders  differ, 
being  full  of  knobs,  like  the  grinders  of  a carnivorous  animal;  when 
those  of  the  elephant,  who  eats  only  vegetables,  are  almost  smooth. 
But  then  we  know  of  no  other  animal  with  tusks  like  an  elephant,  to 
whom  such  grinders  might  belong. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  elephants  now  inhabit  naturally  only  hot 
countries  where  there  is  no  winter,  and  yet  these  remains  are  found 
in  a winter  country;  and  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  elephants’ 
tusks  in  Siberia,  in  great  quantities,  when  their  rivers  overflow,  and 
wash  away  the  earth,  though  Siberia  is  still  more  a wintry  country 
than  that  on  the  Ohio,  which  looks  as  if  the  earth  had  anciently  been 
in  another  position,  and  the  climates  differently  placed  from  what 
they  are  at  present. 

With  great  regard,  I am.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

B.  Franklin. 


In  1767  Wm.  Shippen,  Jr.,  wrote  Franklin  about  two  children  joined 
firmly  together  at  the  breast-bone,  and  tells  him  that  he  sends  a wax 
model  and  an  account  of  the  dissection  for  the  Royal  Society. 

Franklin’s  advice  about  sea-sickness  is  as  sound  as  that  on  almost 
every  other  subject. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Beniamin  Franklin 


47 


Paris,  Sept.  14,  1767. 


To  Miss  Mary  Stevenson. 

. . . Soon  after  I left  you  in  that  agreeable  Society  at  Bromley, 

I took  the  Resolution  of  making  a Trip  with  Sir  John  Pringle  into 
France.  ...  At  Dover,  the  next  Morning,  we  embark’d  for 
Calais  with  a number  of  Passengers,  who  had  never  been  before  at 
sea.  They  would  previously  make  a hearty  Breakfast,  because  if  the 
Wind  should  fail,  we  might  not  get  over  till  Supper  time.  Doubtless 
they  thought  that  when  they  had  paid  for  their  Breakfast,  they  had 
a Right  to  it,  and  that  when  they  had  swallowed  it  they  were  sure  of 
it.  But  they  had  scarce  been  out  half  an  Hour,  before  the  Sea^  laid 
Claim  to  it,  and  they  were  obliged  to  deliver  it  up.  So  it  seems  there 
are  Uncertainties,  even  beyond  those  between  the  Cup  and  the  Lip. 
If  ever  you  go  to  sea,  take  my  x\dvice,  and  live  sparingly  a Day  or  two 
beforehand.  The  Sickness,  if  any,  will  be  lighter  and  sooner  over.  . . 


Franklin’s  letters  on  the  subject  of  lead-poisoning  have  really  become 
classics  in  medical  literature.  The  following  one  to  Dr.  Cadwallader 
Evans  contains  a short  reference. 

London,  February  20,  1768. 

To  Cadwallader  Evans, 

Dear  Sir: 

I Avrote  you  a few  lines  by  Captain  Falconer,  and  sent  you  Dr. 
Watson’s  new  piece  of  Experiments  in  Inoculation,  which  I hope  will 
be  agreeable  to  you. 

In  yours  of  No\"ember  20th,  you  mention  the  lead  in  the  worms  of 
stills  as  a probable  cause  of  the  dry  belly-ache  among  punch-drinkers 
in  our  West  Indies.  I had  before  acquainted  Dr.  Baker  with  a fact 
of  that  kind,  the  general  mischief  done  by  the  use  of  leaden  Avorms, 
when  rum-distilling  was  first  practiced  in  NeAV  England,  AA’hich  occasioned 
a severe  law  there  against  them,  and  he  has  mentioned  it  in  the  second 
part  of  his  piece  not  yet  published.  I haA^e  long  been  of  opinion,  that 
that  distemper  proceeds  alAA’ays  from  a metallic  cause  only;  observing 
that  it  affects,  among  trades-men,  those  that  use  lead,  hoAA^eA’er  different 
their  trades, — as  glaziers,  letter-founders,  plumbers,  potters,  Avhite- 
lead  makers,  and  painters;  (from  the  latter,  it  has  been  conjectured, 
it  took  its  name  colica  Piclonum,  by  the  mistake  of  a letter,  and  not 


48 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


from  its  being  the  disease  of  Poictou)  and,  although  the  worms  of  stills 
ought  to  be  of  pure  tin,  they  are  often  made  of  pewter,  which  has  a 
great  mixture  in  it  of  lead. 

Dr.  John  Hunter  founded  his  essay  on  the  “Dry  belly-ache  of  the 
Tropics”  upon  Franklins  letters,  giving  the  credit  freely  to  him  for 
the  suggestions.  An  interesting  letter  is  the  following. 

oo  O O 

London,  July  28,  1768. 

To  Barbeu  Dubourg.^ 

I greatly  approve  the  epithet  which  you  give,  in  your  letter  of  the 
Sth  of  June,  to  the  new  method  of  treating  the  small-pox,  which  you 
call  the  tonic  or  bracing  method;  I will  take  occasion  from  it  to  mention 
a practice  to  which  I have  accustomed  myself. 

You  know  the  cold  bath  has  long  been  in  vogue  here  as  a tonic; 
but  the  shock  of  the  cold  water  has  always  appeared  to  me,  generally 
speaking,  as  too  violent,  and  I have  found  it  much  more  agreeable  to 
my  constitution  to  bathe  in  another  element,  I mean  cold  air.  With 
this  view  I rise  almost  every  morning,  and  sit  in  my  chamber  without 
any  clothes  whatever,  half  an  hour  or  an  hour,  according  to  the  season, 
either  reading  or  writing.  This  practice  is  not  in  the  least  painful, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  agreeable;  and,  if  I return  to  bed  afterwards, 
before  I dress  myself,  as  sometimes  happens,  I make  a supplement 
to  my  night’s  rest  of  one  or  two  hours  of  the  most  pleasing  sleep  that 
can  be  imagined.  I find  no  ill  consequences  whatever  resulting  from 
it,  and  that  at  least  it  does  not  injure  my  health,  if  it  does  not  in  fact 

‘Barbeu  Dubourg,  1709-1779,  a French  physician.  French  editor  of  Franklin’s 
works,  “ Oeuvres  de  Mi  Franklin,  Docteur  es  Loix,  Traduites  de  I’Anglois  sur  la 
quatrieme  edition.  Par  M.  Barbeu  Dubourg,  avec  des  additions  nouvelles  et  des 
Figures  en  Taille  douce.  Paris,  1773.”  In  1761  published  a Gazette  of  Medicine 
and  in  1767  the  “Botaniste  Franpaise.”  Dedicated  to  Frankhn  his  “Petit  Code  de 
la  Raison  Humaine,”  the  first  edition  of  which  was  published  in  1774,  the  second 
in  1782  at  Franklin’s  press  at  Passy.  Member  of  the  Chnical  Philosophical  Society, 
Medical  Society  of  London,  Member  of  Royal  Society  of  Medicine  of  Paris,  Academy 
of  Stockholm.  He  gave  up  the  practice  of  medicine  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
American  cause  during  the  Revolution.  Franklin  notes  in  his  journal  that  on 
Dec.  29,  1780,  “Went  by  particular  invitation  to  the  Sorbonne,  to  an  Assembly 
of  the  Faculty  of  Physick  in  the  College  Hall;  where  we  had  the  eloge  of  my  friend, 
M.  Dubourg,  and  other  pieces.  Suffer’d  by  cold.”  Franklin’s  original  invitation 
to  attend  Dubourg’s  funeral  is  in  the  American  Philosophical  Society. 


f 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


49 


contribute  much  to  its  preservation.  I shall  therefore  call  it  for  the 
future  a bracing  or  tonic  Bath. 

B.  Franklin. 

To  his  “Dear  Polley”  he  wrote  on  that  topic  on  which  apparently 
he  devoted  so  much  thought — catching  cold. 

Tuesday  Morning,  June  27,  1769. 

To  Miss  Mary  Stevenson. 

. . . I take  this  Opportunity  to  send  you  also,  a late  Paper,  con- 

taining a melancholy  Account  of  the  Distresses  of  some  Seamen.  You 
will  observe  in  it  the  Advantages  they  receiv’d  from  wearing  their 
Clothes  constantly  wet  with  Salt  Water,  under  the  Total  Want  of  fresh 
Water  to  drink.  You  may  remember  I recommended  this  practice 
many  years  ago.  Do  you  know  Dr.  Len,  and  did  you  communicate 
it  to  him?  I fancy  his  Name  is  wrong  spelt  in  this  Paper,  and  that 
it  should  be  Lind,^  having  seen  in  the  Review  some  Extracts  from  a 
book  on  Sea-Diseases,  published  within  these  2 or  3 Years,  by  one 
Dr.  Lind;  but  I have  not  seen  the  Book,  and  know  not  whether  such 
a Passage  be  in  it. 

I need  not  point  out  to  you  an  Observation  in  favour  of  our  Doctrine, 
that  you  will  make  on  reading  this  Paper,  that,  having  little  to  eat, 
these  People  in  wet  Clothes  Day  and  Night  caught  no  Cold. 

My  respects  to  your  Aunt,  and  love  to  all  that  love  you. 

Yours  Affectionately,  B.  Franklin. 

A wise  observation  is  found  below: 

London,  September  7,  1769. 

To  Cadwallader  Evans. 

'.  . . Our  friend  W.  . . . who  is  always  complaining  of  a 

constant  fever,  looks  nevertheless  fresh  and  jolly,  and  does  not  fall 
away  in  the  least.  He  was  saying  the  other  day  at  Richmond,  (where 
we  were  together  dining  with  Governor  Pownall),  that  he  had  been 
pestered  with  a fever  almost  continually  for  these  three  years  past, 
and  that  it  gave  way  to  no  medicines,  all  he  had  taken,  advised  by 

1 James  Lind  (1716-1794)  Author  of  “ An  essay  on  diseases  incidental  to  Europeans 
in  hot  climates,  with  the  method  of  preventing  their  fatal  consequences;  to  which 
is  added  an  appendix  concerning  intermittent  fevers;  to  the  whole  is  annexed  a 
simple  and  easy  way  to  render  salt  water  fresh  and  to  prevent  a scarcity  of  provi- 
sions in  long  voyages.”  London,  1768.  2nd  ed.  in  1771. 


50 


University  of  Pennsxjlvania  Medical  Bulletin 


different  physicians,  having  never  any  effects  towards  removing  it. 
On  which  I asked  him,  if  it  was  not  now  time  to  inquire,  whether  he 
had  really  any  fever  at  all.  He  is  indeed  the  only  instance  I eA’er  knew 
of  a man’s  growing  fat  upon  a fever. 

Many  references  can  be  found  to  the  gout  from  which  Franklin 
suffered  severly,  but  the  following  note  on  the  behaviour  of  this  disease, 
proves  how  closely  he  watched  its  varying  course  and  that  he  was  aware 
of  the  peculiar  shifting  of  the  symptoms  which  at  times  occur  in  this 
i malady. 

London,  June  10,  1770. 

To  Mrs.  Deborah  Franklin. 

. . . As  to  myself,  I had  from  Christmas  till  Easter,  a disagree- 

able Giddiness  hanging  about  me,  which  however  did  not  hinder  me 
from  being  about  and  doing  Business.  In  the  Easter  Holidays  being 
at  a Friend’s  House  in  the  Country,  I was  taken  with  a sore  Throat, 
and  came  home  half  strangled.  From  Monday  till  Friday,  I could 
swallow  nothing  but  Barley  Water  and  the  like.  I was  bled  largely, 
and  purged  two  or  three  times.  On  Friday  came  on  a Fit  of  the  Gout, 
from  which  I had  been  free  Five  Years.  Immediately  the  inflammation 
and  Swelling  in  my  Throat  disappeared;  my  Foot  swelled  greatly, 
and  I was  confined  about  three  Weeks;  since  which  I am  perfectly 
well,  the  Giddiness  and  every  other  disagreeable  Symptom  having 
quite  left  me.  I hope  your  Health  is  likewise  by  this  time  quite  re- 
established,  being  as  ever,  my  dear  child,  your  affectionate  Husband, 

B.  Franklin. 


London,  Jan.  28,  1772. 


To  Anthony  Tissington. 

. . . Mrs.  Stevenson  keeps  about,  but  is  ever  ailing,  like  your 

Dame,  with  Rheumatic  Pains  that  fly  from  Limb  to  Limb  continually. 
Tis  a most  wicked  Distemper,  and  often  puts  me  in  mind  of  the  Saying 
of  a Scotch  Divine  to  some  of  his  Brethren  who  where  complaining 
that  their  Flocks  had  of  late  been  infected  with  Arianism  andi  Socinianism. 
“Mine,”  says  he,  “is  infected  with  a worse  ism  than  either  of  those.” 

. . . Pray,  Brother,  what  can  that  be?  . . . It  is,  the 

Rheumatism.”  ... 


THE  MEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  William  Peppee,  M.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathology,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Thomas  Bond  wrote  the  following  interesting  letter,  and  Dr. 
Franklin  answered  it  in  full,  giving  his  personal  views  on  the  subject 
of  Medical  Education. 

Philadelphia,  July  6,  1771. 

Dear  Sir: 

This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  Mr.  Daniel  Kheun,  the  Brother 
of  Doct.  Kheun,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Botany  in  our  College. 
He  is  going  to  Sweeden  to  study  Divinity  and  proposes  returning  here 
with  the  pastoral  charge  of  some  of  the  Swedish  Congregations.  His 
Brother  thinks  Doctr  Franklin’s  patronage  will  be  of  particular  Service 
to  him  in  his  Designs  and  both  he  and  I shall  think  ourselves  much 
obliged  for  your  Civilities  to  him. 

My  Second  Son  Richard  is  studying  Physic  and  Surgery  with  such 
Application  his  Friends  have  Expectations  of  his  making  a Figure  in 
the  different  Branches  of  his  Profession,  especially  the  latter.  He  is 
to  be  examined  in  our  Colledge  next  year,  and  is  then  to  finish  his  Studies 
in  Europe.  But  where  to  send  him  to  the  greatest  Advantage,  is  with 
Me  a Doubt.  Most  of  our  young  Men  have  depended  on  Edenbourgh 
and  London  for  their  Education.  The  School  of  Edinburgh  seems 
at  this  time  to  be  better  calculated  to  please  the  Fancy,  than  to  form 
the  Judgement;  and  indeed  the  many  extraordinary  Novelities  in- 
cullcated  there,  would  be  a Barr  to  public  Confidence  in  this  Part  of 
the  World.  As  far  as  We  can  judge  from  the  public  Exhibitions, 
Surgery  in  London  is  a Tnere  mechanic  Art,  well  executed.  The  Academy 
of  Surgery  in  Paris,  aims  at  uniting  Science  to  their  Profession  and 
have  done  thereby  Honour  to  it.  But  whether  they  have  men  of 
Eminence  in  their  Hospitals  and  Theatres  of  Anatomy  I know  not. 


52 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


My  friends  Astruc,  Winslow,  Ferin,  Hnno,  and  Le  Cat  are  dead.  From 
the  character  and  Writings  of  Gaubius,  there  is  reason  to  Think  Physick 


IPMAWKiLm 

(Pli^’Sicicn  et  Pluiosoplie fj 
Meamlbre  dela  societe  a?oj'ale  tie  ]L®aiiirp§ . 
Ne  aBos-toiL  (Etats  mus  dlAmerigue)  le  Jeiivier  lyoS 
Mort  aPtiladelplae  le  ij  Avri]  ly^o 


Fig,  17. — Benjamin  Franklin.  Physicien  et  Philosophe.  From  an  engraving  by 
Ambroise  Tardieu,  after  the  protrait  by  Duplessis.  In  the  author’s  collection. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


53 


is  scientifically  and  usefully  taught  in  Leyden,  and  yet  it  is  said  that 
School  is  neglected.  Vanswieten  has  aimed  at  a Reform  of  the  medical 
Institutions  in  Vienna,  and  yet  the  World  is  annually  misled  by  Absurdi- 
ties and  Falsehoods  under  his  Sanction.  Who,  that  has  tryed  the 
Cicuta,  can  read  the  Account  given  of  it  without  a Blush.  The  Uva 
Ursi  has  indeed  the  Appearance  of  being  a safe  and  useable  Addition 
to  the  Materia  Medica.  This  we  will  give  them  the  credit  for.  Thus 
my  dear  Friend,  you  see  the  Difficulties  I am  under,  in  an  Affair  I have 
much  at  Heart  and  which  it  is  in  your  Power  to  remove.  Every  man 
who  is  acquainted  with  the  Writings  of  Sir  John  Pringle  must  wish 
to  see  Physick  cultivated  on  his  Principles,  and  would  be  much  pleased 
with  his  Advice  in  a medical  Education.  If  therefore  you  could,  at 
some  Liesoure  Hour,  collect  his  Sentiment  on  this  Occasion,  and  com- 
municate it  to  me,  it  would  be  the  highest  Satisfaction.  Oh!  what 
Pleasure  it  would  give  Me  to  have  the  Portrait  of  that  medical  Sage 
at  your  right  Hand. 

Good  Mrs.  Franklin  has  presented  Me  with  a new  Picture  of  You 
which  has  been  much  visited,  and  much  admired,  it  is  generally  agreed 
there  is  in  it  a remarkable  sensible  meaning,  added  to  a most  striking 
Likeness.  I most  sincerely  thank  you  for  this  additional  Instance  of 
your  Friendship.  On  the  28th  of  June  We  had  a Commencement 
in  the  Colledge,  the  Farce  was  prettily  played  off.  I have  sent  you 
one  of  the  medical  Dissertations  Dedicated  to  yourself  and  the  Gover- 
nour;  the  Author  is  really  a Man  of  Merit.  There  is  another  on  a 
Dropsy,  which  mentions  the  extraordinary  Success  of  my  Method  in 
the  Cure  of  Dropsies  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  which  I would 
Gladly  have  sent  to  Sir  John,  but  the  Facts  are  there  so  badly  chosen, 
and  the  Principles  so  much  mistaken,  that  I cannot  patronise  it.  This 
will  lay  me  under  the  disagreeable  Necessity  of  revising  my  Notes  on 
that  Subject. 

Our  Philosophical  Society  continues,  tho  few  Papers  have  been  sent 
to  it  since  the  Publication;  a Correspondence  with  the  learned  Societies 
in  Europe  would  be  usefull  and  reputable  and  probably  a Spur  to  us. 
This  I hope  you  will  keep  in  View,  whereby  you  will  greatly  oblige 
all  the  members  and  particularly  Dear  Sir 

Your  most  affectionate 

humble  servant  Th,  Bond. 


54 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


London,  Feb.  5,  1772 

To  Dr.  Thomas  Bond, 

Dear  Sir: 

I received  your  Favour  by  Mr.  D.  Kuhn  but  being  then  just  setting 
out  on  a Tour  thro’  Ireland  and  Scotland,  I had  not  time  to  answer 
it.  Mr.  Kuhn  I believe  went  directly  to  Sweden.  I shall,  if  he  returns 
hither  while  I am  here,  gladly  render  him  any  Service  in  my  Power. 

DISSERTATIO  MEDICA» 
INAUGURALIS. 

D E 

SITIS  IN  FEBRIBUS  CAUSIS 
ET  REMEDIIS» 


Q^U  A Mj 

Sub  Kfodnaioiiie  Vui  admodum  Rcvcniidl 

GULIELMI  SMITH,  S.  T.  P. 
COLLEGII  « ACADEMI4E  PHILADELPHIENSIS 
PRAEFECTI, 

Ex  FERILLUSTRIUM  Cl'RATORUM  Aaaoriute, 
NEC  NON 

Aciplifliaiae  Collcgii  ct  Acadcjnlae  Facultatis  deci^, 
DEO  TER  OPTIMO  MAXIMO  ANNUENTE, 

Pro  GRADU  .DOCTORATUS, 

3UMMISqU£  IN  MEOICINA  HONORIBV3  ET  PRIVILEOIIS 
RITE  AC  lEGITIME  CONSEiyiENDIS, 

Eruditoriim  examini  fubjeiSam  fuAinuit 
JONATHAN  ELMER  M,  B. 
Novo-Caesariensis. 

A4  diem  28Junii»  hom  locotjae  foHm« 

jfg^rcdiar,  non  tarn  perficUndi  fpc,  quam,  cxpcriendi  voluntate, 

C 1 c £ k o. 


PHILADELPHIA 
Apud  HENRICUM  MILLER. 

M.  OCG  LXXL 

Fig.  18. — Title  Page  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Elmer’s  Thesis,  which  was  dedicate^ 
to  Franklin.  The  original  in  the  author’s  library. 


I suppose  your  Son  Richard  will  spend  some  time  in  London,  where 
by  what  I have  heard.  Physic  and  Surgery  may  be  studied  to  as  great 
advantage  as  in  any  Part  of  the  World,  by  Attending  the  Anatomical 
Lectures  and  Hospitals,  conversing  with  the  most  eminent  Practitioners, 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


55 


and  Reading  under  their  Advice  and  Direction;  and  yet  the  general 
Run  is  at  present  to  Edinburgh;  there  being  at  the  Opening  of  the 
Schools  when  I was  there  in  November  last,  a much  greater  Number 
of  medical  Students  than  had  ever  been  known  before.  They  have 
indeed  a Set  of  Able  Professors  in  the  several  Branches,  if  common 


Fig.  19. — John  Gregory,  M.D.,  F.R.S. 

Opinion  may  be  rely’d  on.  I who  am  no  Judge  in  that  Science,  can 
only  say  that  I found  them  very  sensible  Men,  and  agreeable  Com- 
panions, I will  endeavour  to  obtain  Sir  John  Pringle’s  Advice  in  the 
Affair,  as  you  desire.  Every  Wednesday  Evening  he  admits  young 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  to  a Conversation  at  his  House,  which  is 
thought  very  improving  to  them.  I will  endeavour  to  introduce  your 


56 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Son  there  when  he  comes  to  London.  And  to  tell  you  frankly  my 
Opinion,  I suspect  there  is  more  valuable  knowledge  in  Physic  to  be 
learnt  from  the  honest  candid  Observations  of  an  old  Practitioner, 
who  is  past  all  desire  of  more  Business,  having  made  his  Fortune,  who 
has  none  of  the  Professional  Interest  in  keeping  up  a Parade  of  Science 
to  draw  Pupils,  and  who  by  Experience  has  discovered  the  IneflBcacy 
of  most  Remedies  and  Modes  of  Practice,  than  from  all  the  formal 


Fig.  20. — Dr.  William  Cullen.  Engraved  by  Ridley. 


Lectures  of  all  the  Universities  upon  Earth.  I like  therefore  a Physi- 
cian’s breeding  his  Son  to  Medicine,  and  wish  the  Art  to  be  continued 
with  the  Race,  as  thinking  that  must  be  upon  the  whole  most  for  the 
Publick  Welfare.  . . . 

. . . I thank  you  for  the  inaugural  Dissertation,  and  am  pleas’d 

to  see  our  School  of  Physic  begin  to  make  a Figure.  I know  not  why 
it  should  not  soon  be  equal  to  that  in  Edinburgh.  I am  much  oblig’d 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


57 


to  the  young  gentleman  who  has  done  me  the  Honour  to  inscribe  his 
Performance  to  me.  I wish  him  the  Success  his  Ingenuity  seems  to 
Promise  himd 


Fig.  21. — Dr.  Joseph  Black.-  Engraved  by  J.  Posselwhite, 
after  a portrait  bj-  Raeburn. 


' Jonathan  Elmer  who  was  one  of  the  ten  members  of  the  first  class  to  graduate 
with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Medicine  in  1768  from  the  College  and  Academy 
of  Philadelphia,  now  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  also  one  of  the  four 
who  returned  in  1771  and  received  in  addition  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 
To  receive  this  degree  of  M.D.  a thesis  was  necessarj-.  Elmer’s  thesis  is  the  only 
one  of  the  four  dedicated  to  Benjamin  FrankUn. 

’ Joseph  Black,  1728-1799.  Celebrated  Scottish  Chemist.  Professor  of  Chemistry 
at  Glasgow  and  later  at  Edinburgh.  Made  important  discoveries  on  the  nature 
of  Hme  and  carbonic  acid  gas.  Originated  the  theory  of  latent  heat. 


58 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


In  1768  three  years  before  Franklin  visited  Edinburgh,  the  Faculty 
of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh  was  com- 
posed of: 

Alexander  Monro,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery. 
William  Cullen,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Institutes  of  Medicine. 

John  Gregory,  M.D.,^  Professor  of  Practice  of  Medicine. 

Joseph  Black,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry. 

Thomas  Young,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Midwifery. 

Francis  Home,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica. 

John  Hope,  M.D.,^  Professor  of  Botany. 

John  Rae,  M.D.,  Lecturer  on  Surgery  in  the  Infirmary. 


London,  Jan.  30,  1772. 


To  William  Franklin. 

. . . In  Scotland  I spent  5 Days  with  Lord  Karnes  at  his  seat, 

Blair  Drummond,  near  Stirling,  two  or  three  Days  at  Glasgow,  two 
Days  at  Carron  Iron  Works,  and  the  rest  of  the  Month  in  and  about 
Edinburgh,  lodging  at  David  Hume’s,  who  entertain’d  me  with  the 
greatest  Kindness  and  Hospitality,  as  did  Lord  Karnes  and  his  Lady. 
All  our  old  acquaintances  there.  Sir  Alex'^  Dick  and  Lady,  Mr.  McGowen, 
Drs.  Robertson,  Cullen,  Black,  Ferguson,  Russel,  and  others,  enquired 
affectionately  of  your  Welfare.  . . . 


An  important  medical  letter,  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  S.  Weir  Mitchell, 
containing  useful  suggestions  is  the  following: 

London,  May  8,  1772. 

To  Dr.  John  Hawkesworth 
Dear  Sir: 

Dining  abroad  yesterday,  and  not  coming  home  till  12  at  night  I did 
not  get  your  letter  in  time  to  answer  it  by  the  return  of  the  post  as  you 
desired. 

* John  Gregory,  1724-1773.  Celebrated  Scottish  physician.  Professor  of 
Medicine  at  Aberdeen  and  later  of  the  Practice  of  Physic  in  Edinburgh. 

^ John  Hope,  1725-1786.  Scottish  physician  and  botanist.  In  1762  Franklin 
wrote  Sir  Alexander  Dick  saying,  “Please  to  acquaint  your  friend  Dr.  Hope  that 
I am  about  returning  to  America  this  summer,  and  will  send  him  free  of  charge 
for  postage  in  America  any  Letters  containing  Leaves  of  Plants  or  small  Parcells 
of  Seeds  that  shall  be  committed  to  my  care  by  any  of  his  or  your  Friends  there.” 

® John  Hawkesworth,  LL.D.,  1715-1773.  Writer  and  editor  of  Swift. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


59 


Dr.  McBride,  of  Dublin,  some  time  since  discovered  that  putrid  flesh 
could  not  only  be  rendered  sweet,  but  its  firmness  restored  by  immersing 
it  in  Fix’d  Air;  which  is  air  that  has  made  part  of  the  solid  substance  of 
bodies,  and  is  separated  and  set  at  liberty  from  them  in  their  dissolution, 
or  fermentation,  or  effervescence  with  other  bodies.  This  air  is  not  fit 
for  breathing;  fiame  is  extinguished  by  it;  and,  taken  into  the  lungs  it 
instantly  extinguishes  animal  life,  but  taken  into  the  stomach  is  deemed 
salutary,  as  in  Pyrmont  water  which  contains  much  of  it.  Dr.  Priestley 
discovered  that  two-fourths  of  the  air,  one  produced  by  suffering  dead 
mice  to  putrefy  under  glass,  the  other  by  the  effervescence  of  chalk  and 
water  with  a small  quantity  of  acid  or  vitriol,  in  either  of  which  airs 
living  mice  being  put  would  instantly  die,  yet  the  two  being  mixed  both 
become  good  common  air,  and  mice  breathe  in  it  freely.  From  his  own 
and  Dr.  McBride’s  experiment  (who  thought  Fix’d  Air  would  prevent 
or  cure  the  sea  scurvy)  he  was  persuaded  it  might  be  of  use  in  mortifi- 
cation. But  of  this  there  has  been  only  a single  experiment.  A Phys- 
ician of  his  acquaintance  at  Leeds  wrote  to  him  while  he  was  lately  in 
town  that  a person  dying  as  was  thought  of  a putrid  fever  with  all  the 
symptoms  of  a mortification  in  the  bowels  had  been  suddenly  relieved 
and  recovered  by  the  injection  of  Fix’d  Air  as  a clyster.  These  are  all 
our  present  premises  upon  which  you  can  Judge  as  well  as  I how  far  one 
may  expect  the  same  Fix’d  Air  will  be  of  service  applied  to  a cancer,  but, 
as  you  ask  my  opinion,  as  the  case  might  be  otherwise  desperate  and  we 
know  of  no  danger  in  the  trial,  I should  be  for  trying  it.  I would  first 
syringe  the  sore  strongly  with  warm  water  impregnated  with  Fix’d  Air  so 
as  to  cleanse  well  the  part.  Then  I would  apply  to  it  a succession  of 
glasses  filled  with  Fix’d  Air,  each  glass  to  remain  till  the  sore  had 
absorbed  the  Fix’d  Air  contained  in  it.  It  would  require  a long 
description  to  explain  the  readiest  methods  of  obtaining  the  air,  apply- 
ing it,  and  impregnating  the  water  with  it,  and  perhaps  I would  not 
make  myself  clearly  understood.  The  best  way  is  to  show  it  wliich  I 
will  do  either  here  or  at  Bromley  if  you  desire  it. 

Being  ever  my  dear  friend 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 


60 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


From  the  following  and  also  from  a sentence  in  the  last  letter  quoted 
he  might  be  almost  called  a therapeutic  nihilist. 


London,  Aug.  19,  1772. 

To  William  Franklin. 

In  yours  of  May  14th,  you  acquaint  me  with  your  indisposition,  which 
gave  me  great  concern.  The  resolution  you  have  taken  to  use  more 
exercise  is  extremely  proper,  and  I hope  you  will  steadily  perform  it. 
It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  prevent  diseases,  since  the  cure  of  them 
by  physic  is  so  very  precarious.  . . . 

The  dumb  bell  is  another  exercise  of  the  latter  compendious 
kind.  By  the  use  of  it  I have  in  Forty  swings  quickened  my  pulse  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  beats  in  a minute,  counted  by  a second  watch,  and 
I suppose  the  warmth  generally  increases  with  quickness  of  pulse.  . . . 

A long  letter  to  Dr.  Dubourg,  with  whom  he  frequently  corresponded, 
is  devoted  entirely  to  swimming,  an  exercise  Franklin  was  very  fond  of 
and  in  which  he  was  expert. 

To  Barbeu  Dubourg. 

. . . During  the  great  heats  of  summer  there  is  no  danger  in 

bathing,  however  warm  we  may  be,  in  rivers  which  have  been  thoroughly 
warmed  by  the  sun.  But  to  throw  one’s  self  into  cold  spring  water, 
when  the  body  has  been  heated  by  exercise  in  the  sun,  is  an  imprudence 
which  may  prove  fatal.  I once  knew  an  instance  of  four  young  men, 
who  having  worked  at  harvest  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  with  a view  of 
refreshing  themselves,  plunged  into  a spring  of  cold  water;  two  died  upon 
the  spot,  a third  the  next  morning,  and  the  fourth  recovered  with  great 
difficulty.  A copious  draught  of  cold  water,  in  similar  circumstances, 
is  frequently  attended  with  the  same  effect  in  North  America. 

The  exercise  of  swimming  is  one  of  the  most  healthy  and  agreeable 
in  the  world.  After  having  swam  for  an  hour  or  two  in  the  evening,  one 
sleeps  cooly  the  whole  night,  even  during  the  most  ardent  heat  of  summer. 
Perhaps,  the  pores  being  cleansed,  the  insensible  perspiration  increases 
and  occasions  this  coolness.  It  is  certain  that  much  swimming  is  the 
means  of  stopping  a diarrhoea,  and  even  of  producing  a constipation. 
With  respect  to  those,  who  do  not  know  how  to  swim,  or  who  are  affected 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


61 


with  a diarrhoea  at  a season  which  does  not  permit  them  to  use  that 
exercise,  a warm  bath,  by  cleansing  and  purifying  the  skin,  is  found  very 
salutary,  and  often  effects  a radical  cure.  I speak  from  my  own  experi- 
ence, frequently  repeated,  and  that  of  others  to  whom  I have  recom- 
mended this. 


London,  Feb.  10,  1773. 

To  James  Johnston. 

Sir: 

I have  received  your  Letter  with  the  Sample  of  North  American 
Senna,  which  I put  into  the  Hands  of  a Friend  who  is  a great  Botanist 
as  well  as  a Physician,  and  has  made  some  Trial  of  it. 


We  have  seen  how  medical  men  were  largely  instrumental  in  electing 
Franklin  to  the  Royal  Society  and  therefore  it  is  gratifying  to  see  that 
he  returned  the  compliment. 


London,  Feb.  14,  1773. 


To  Joseph  Galloway. 

. . . I thank  you  for  proposing  the  two  Members  I mention’d.  I 

have  now  some  others  to  propose,  viz:  Dr.  Barbeu  Dubourg  of  Paris,  a 
Man  of  very  extensive  Learning  and  an  excellent  Philosopher,  who  is 
ambitious  of  the  Honour.  . . . 

. . . There  is  another  Gentleman,  who,  I believe,  would  be 

pleas’d  with  it,  tho’  he  has  not  mentioned  it;  I mean  the  President  of  the 
Royal  Society,  Sir  John  Pringle,  Bart.  It  is  usual  for  the  Academy 
of  Sciences  at  Paris  always  to  chuse  the  president  of  the  English  Royal 
Society  one  of  their  Foreign  Members,  and  it  is  well  taken  here  as  a Mark 
of  Respect,  and  I think  it  would  also  be  taken  by  the  Society  if  you  should 
chuse  him.  . . . 


Doubourg  was  elected;  Pringle  was  not. 

The  following  pieces  are  all  from  letters  to  his  friend  Barbeu 
Dubourg. 


I shall  not  attempt  to  explain  why  damp  clothes  occasion  colds, 
rather  than  wet  ones,  because  I doubt  the  fact;  I imagine  that  neither  the 
one  nor  the  other  contribute  to  this  effect,  and  that  the  cause  of  colds 


(52 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


are  totally  independent  of  wet  and  even  of  cold.  I propose  writing  a 
short  paper  on  this  subject,  the  first  moment  of  leisure  I have  at  my 
disposal.  In  the  mean  time  I can  only  say,  that,  having  some  suspicions 
that  the  common  notion,  which  attributes  to  cold  the  property  of  stopping 
the  pores  and  obstructing  perspiration,  was  ill  founded,  I engaged  a 
young  physician,  who  is  making  some  experiments  with  Sanctorius’s 
balance,  to  estimate  the  different  proportions  of  his  perspiration,  when 
remaining  one  hour  quite  naked,  and  another  warmly  clothed.^  He 
pursued  the  experiment  in  this  alternate  manner  for  eight  hours  succes- 
sively and  found  his  perspiration  almost  doubled  during  those  hours  in 
which  he  was  naked. 

Your  observations  on  the  causes  of  death,  and  the  experiments 
which  you  propose  for  the  recalling  to  life  those  who  appear  to  be  killed 
by  lightning,  demonstrate  equally  your  sagacity  and  your  humanity.  It 
appears  that  the  doctrines  of  life  and  death  in  general  are  yet  but  little 
understood. 

A toad  buried  in  sand  will  live,  it  is  said,  till  the  sand  becomes  petri- 
fied, and  then  being  enclosed  in  the  stone,  it  may  still  live  for  we  know  not 
how  many  ages.  The  facts  which  are  cited  in  support  of  this  opinion  are 
too  numerous  and  too  circumstantial,  not  to  deserve  a certain  degree  of 
credit.  . . . 

. . . I have  seen  an  instance  of  common  flies  preserved  in  a manner 

somewhat  similar.  They  had  been  drowned  in  Madeira  wine,  apparently 
about  the  time  it  was  bottled  in  Virginia,  to  be  sent  hither  (to  London). 
At  the  opening  of  one  of  the  bottles,  at  the  house  of  a friend  where  I then 
was,  three  drowned  flies  fell  into  the  first  glass  that  was  filled.  Having 
heard  it  remarked  that  drowned  flies  were  capable  of  being  revived 
by  the  rays  of  the  sun,  I proposed  making  the  experiment  upon  these; 
they  were  therefore  exposed  to  the  sun  upon  a sieve,  which  had  been 
employed  to  strain  them  out  of  the  wine.  In  less  than  three  hours,  two  of 
them  began  by  degrees  to  recover  life.  They  commenced  by  some  con- 
vulsive motions  of  the  thighs,  and  at  length  they  raised  themselves  upon 
their  legs,  wiped  their  eyes  with  their  fore  feet,  beat  and  brushed 

‘ From  the  letter  on  page  .33  it  will  be  seen  that  this  experiment  was  not  entirely 
original  with  Franklin,  he  having  read  of  a somewhat  similar  one  some  years  before. 
The  “young  physician”  was  Dr.  William  Stark,  1740-1770. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


63 


their  wings  with  their  hind  feet,  and  soon  after  began  to  fly,  finding 
themselves  in  Old  England,  without  knowing  how  they  came  thither. 
The  third  continued  lifeless  till  sunset,  when,  losing  all  hopes  of  him, 
he  was  thrown  away. 

I wish  it  were  possible,  from  this  instance,  to  invent  a method  of 
embalming  drowned  persons,  in  such  a manner  that  they  may  be  recalled 
to  life  at  any  period,  however  distant;  for  having  a very  ardent  desire  to 
see  and  observe  the  state  of  America  a hundred  years  hence,  I should 
prefer  to  any  ordinary  death,  the  being  immersed  in  a cask  of  Madeira 
wine,  with  a few  friends,  till  that  time,  to  be  then  recalled  to  life  by 
the  solar  warmth  of  my  dear  country!  But  since  in  all  probability  we 
live  in  an  age  too  early  and  too  near  the  infancy  of  science,  to  hope  to  see 
an  art  brought  in  our  time  to  its  perfection,  I must  for  the  present  content 
myself  with  the  treat,  which  you  are  so  kind  as  to  promise  me,  of  the 
resurrection  of  a fowl  or  a turkey  cock. 

I am,  etc., 

B.  Franklin. 

. . . The  flesh  of  animals,  fresh  killed  in  the  usual  manner,  is 

firm,  hard,  and  not  in  a very  eatable  state,  because  the  particles  adhere 
too  forcibly  to  each  other.  At  a certain  period,  the  cohesion  is  weakened, 
and,  in  its  progress  towards  putrefaction,  which  tends  to  produce  a 
total  separation,  the  flesh  becomes  what  we  call  tender,  or  is  in  that  state 
most  proper  to  be  used  as  our  food. 

It  has  frequently  been  remarked,  that  animals  killed  by  lightning 
putrefy  immediately.  This  cannot  be  invariably  the  case,  since  a 
quantity  of  lightning,  sufficient  to  kill,  may  not  be  sufficient  to  tear  and 
divide  the  fibres  and  particles  of  flesh,  and  reduce  them  to  that  tender 
state,  which  is  the  prelude  to  putrefaction.  Hence  it  is,  that  some 
animals  killed  in  this  manner  will  keep  longer  than  others.  But  the 
putrefaction  sometimes  proceeds  with  surprising  celerity.  . . . 

. . . The  young  physician,  whom  I mentioned  is  dead,  and  all  the 

notes  which  he  had  left  of  his  curious  experiments  are  by  some  accident 
lost  between  our  friends  Sir  John  Pringle  and  Dr.  Huck  (Saunders) 

' Richard  Huck  (Saunders),  1720-1785.  Physician  to  the  British  Army  in  America, 
under  Lord  Loundoim,  during  the  Seven  Years’  War.  His  name  originally  was 
Huck,  but  marrying  the  niece  and  heiress  of  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Saunders,  he  added 
that  name  to  his  own. 


64 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletm 


but  these  gentlemen,  if  the  papers  cannot  be  recovered,  it  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed, will  repeat  the  experiments  themselves. 

B.  Franklin. 

The  following  two  letters  were  on  special  hobbies  of  Franklin’s,  fresh 
air  and  catching  cold. 

London,  June  22,  1773. 

To  Jean  Baptiste  Le  Roy.^ 

. . . I am  pleas’d  to  hear  you  are  engag’d  in  the  Consideration  of 

Hospitals.  I wish  any  Observations  of  mine  could  be  of  Use  to  you,  they 
should  be  at  your  Service.  But  ’tis  a Subject  I am  very  little  acquainted 
with.  I can  only  say,  that,  if  a free  and  copious  Perspiration  is  of  Use  in 
Diseases,  that  seems,  from  the  Experiments  I mention’d  to  M.  Dubourg 
to  be  best  obtained  by  light  covering  and  fresh  Air  continually  changing. 
The  Moisture  on  the  Skin  when  the  Body  is  warmly  covered,  being  a 
Deception,  and  the  Effect  not  of  greater  Transpiration,  but  of  the 
Saturation  of  the  Air  included  under  and  in  the  Bedclothes,  which  there- 
fore can  absorb  no  more,  and  so  leaves  it  on  the  surface  of  the  Body. 
From  those  Experiments  I am  convinc’d  of  what  I indeed  before  sus- 
pected, that  the  Opinion  of  Perspiration  being  check’d  by  Cold  is  an 
Error,  as  well  as  that  of  Rheum  being  occasion’d  by  Cold.  But  as  this  is 
Heresy  here,  and  perhaps  may  be  so  with  you,  I only  whisper  it,  and 
expect  you  will  keep  my  Secret.  Our  Physicians  have  begun  to  discover 
that  fresh  Air  is  good  for  People  in  the  Small-Pox  and  other  Fevers.  I 
hope  in  time  they  will  find  out  that  it  does  no  harm  to  People  in  Health. 

We  have  nothing  new  here  in  the  philosophic  Way.  I shall  like  to 
hear  how  M.  Lavoisier’s  Doctrine  supports  itself  as  I suppose  it  will  be 
controverted. 

With  the  greatest  Esteem,  I am  ever.  Dear  Sir, 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 

‘ Jean  Baptiste  LeRoy,  1724-1800.  A natural  philosopher,  bom  in  Paris.  Mem- 
ber of  the  Academie  des  Sciences,  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  of  the  American  Philo- 
sophical Society.  He  wrote  several  works  on  electricity. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


65 


London,  June  29,  1773 

To  Barbeu  Dubourg. 

Dear  Friend, 

, . . I have  not  time  to  write  what  I intend  upon  the  Cause  of 

Colds,  or  Rheums,  and  my  opinion  on  that  Head  are  so  singular  here 
that  I am  almost  afraid  to  hazard  them  abroad.  In  the  mean  time,  be  so 
kind  as  to  tell  me  at  your  leisure,  whether  in  France,  you  have  a general 
Belief  that  moist  Air,  and  cold  Air,  and  damp  Shirts  or  Sheets,  and  wet 
Floors,  and  Beds  that  have  not  lately  been  used,  and  Clothes  that  have  not 
been  lately  worn,  and  going  out  of  a warm  Room  into  the  Air,  and  leaving 
off  a long-worn  Waistcoat,  and  wearing  leaky  Shoes,  and  sitting  near  an 
open  Window,  or  Door,  in  a coach  with  both  Glasses  down,  are  all  or 
any  of  them  capable  of  giving  the  Distemper  we  call  a cold,  and  you  a 
Rheum,  or  Catarrh?  Or  are  these  merely  English  ideas?  . . . 

I am  ever,  with  the  greatest  Esteem  and  Respect, 

Dear  Sir,  yours,  etc. 

B.  Franklin. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Franklin  never  wrote  his  intended  paper  on 
catching  cold,  the  following  long  list  of  headings  or  preparatory  notes 
and  hints  as  he  called  them,  gives  us  a very  clear  idea  of  what  the  paper 
would  have  contained.  This  is  the  nearest  approach  to  a real  medical 
article  among  Franklin’s  writings,  but  it  shows  what  he  could  have  done.. 

Preparatory  Notes  and  Hints  for  Writing  a Paper  Concerning 
what  is  Called  Catching  Cold. 

Definition  of  a Cold. 

It  is  a Siziness  and  thickness  of  the  Blood,  whereby  the  smaller 
Vessels  are  obstructed,  and  the  Perspirable  Matter  retained,  which  being 
* retained  offends  both  by  its  Quantity  and  Quality;  by  Quantity,  as  it  over- 
fills the  Vessels,  and  by  the  Quality;  as  part  of  it  is  acrid,  and  being 
retained,  produces  Coughs  and  Sneezes  by  Irritation. 

How  this  siziness  is  Produc’d. 

1.  By  being  long  expos’d  in  a cold  Air,  without  Exercises;  cold  thick- 
ens Glew. 

2.  By  a diminish’d  Perspiration,  either  1,  from  breathing  and  living- 
in  moist  Air,  or,  2,  from  a clogging  of  the  Pores  by  clammy  Sweat  dry’d 


6G  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

on  and  fastning  down  the  Scales  of  the  Skin;  or,  3,  by  Cold  constringing 
the  Pores  partially  or  totally,  sleeping  or  waking;  or,  4,  by  having  eat 
foods  of  too  gross  Particles  for  free  Persp".,  as  .Oysters,  Pork,  Ducks, 
etc.  People  are  found  frequently  costive  after  much  bathing. 

3.  By  Repletion,  as  when  more  is  thrown  into  the  Habit  by  Eating 
and  Drinking  than  common  Persp“.  is  capable  of  discharging  in  due 
time;  whence  the  Vessels  are  distended  beyond  their  Spring,  and  the 
quantity  of  contained  Fluid,  that  should  be  briskly  moved  to  preserve 
or  acquire  due  Thinness,  is  too  weighty  for  their  Force,  whence  a slow 
jMotion — then  viscidity.  This  Repletion  is  increased  by  a Constipation 
of  the  Belly  happening  at  the  same  time.  In  an  approaching  cold,  more 
water  is  made  than  usual. 

By  cooling  suddenly  in  the  Air  after  Exercise.  Exercise  quickening  the 
Circulation,  produces  more  perspirable  Matter  in  a given  time,  than  is 
produced  in  rest.  And  tho’  more  is  likewise  usually  discharg’d  during 
Exercise,  yet  on  sudden  quitting  of  Exercise  and  standing  in  the  Air, 
the  Circulation  and  Production  of  Perspirable  matter  still  continuing 
some  time,  the  over  Quantity  is  retain’d.  It  is  safer  not  to  go  into  water 
too  cold. 

4.  By  particular  Effluvia  in  the  iVir,  from  some  unknown  Cause. 
General  Colds  thro ’-out  a Country.  By  being  in  a Coach  close,  or  small 
Room  with  a Person  having  a Cold. 

5.  By  Relaxation  of  the  Solids,  from  a warm  and  moist  Air,  so  that  they 
are  too  weak  to  give  due  Motion  to  the  Fluids. 

Of  partial  Colds  affecting  parts  only  of  the  Body. 

Causes  of  Feverishness  attending  Colds. 

Ill  Consequences  often  attending  Colds,  as  Pleurisies,  Consumptions, 
etc.  Some  never  take  cold,  some  frequently;  causes  of  the  Difference. 

Present  Remedies  for  a Cold  should  be  warming,  diluting,  bracing. 

Means  of  preventing  Colds : Temperance,  Choice  of  Aleats  and  Drinks, 
warm  Rooms,  and  Lodging,  and  Clothing  in  Winter,  dry  Air,  Care  to 
keep  the  Belly  open,  and  frequent  discharge  of  Water,  w^arm  Bathing  to 
cleanse  the  Skin,  rubbing  after  Sweat,  especially  in  the  Spring. 

Difficulties  that  first  put  me  on  thinking  on  this  Subject.  People  get 
cold  by  less,  and  not  by  more,  viz. 

By  putting  on  a damp  Shirt  on  a dry  Body,  Yes. 


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67 


By  putting  on  a dry  Shirt  on  a wet  Body,  tho’  this  wets  the  shirt  ten 
times  more,  No. 

By  sitting  in  a Room,  where  the  Floor  has  been  newly  wash’d.  Yes. 

By  going  into  a River,  and  staying  there  an  Hour  (no  Sheets  so  wet), 
No. 

By  wetting  the  feet  only.  Yes. 

By  wetting  all  the  Clothes  thro’  to  the  Body,  and  wearing  them  a whole 
day.  No. 

By  sitting  in  a Room  against  a Crevice,  Yes. 

By  sitting  as  long  in  the  open  Air,  No. 

Few  of  these  Causes  take  place  if  the  Vessels  are  kept  Empty. 

Reapers  in  Pennsylvania  : — 

Drinking  cold  Water  when  they  are  hot. 

If  it  makes  them  sweat,  they  are  safe. 

If  not,  they  fall  ill,  and  some  die. 

People  hot,  should  drink  by  Spoonfuls,  the  Reason. 

Taking  Cold.  The  Disorder  only  called  so  in  English,  and  in  no  other 
Language. 

American  Indians,  in  the  Woods,  and  the  Whites  in  Imitation  of  them, 
lie  with  their  Feet  to  the  Fire  in  frosty  Nights,  on  the  ground  and  take 
no  cold  while  they  can  keep  their  Feet  warm. 

Feet  and  Hands  are  apt  to  be  Cold  in  that  Disorder,  and  why.  Is  it 
the  Siziness,  or  the  greater  Evaporation? 

Hottentots  grease  themselves — occasions  other  Evacuations  more 
plentiful.  Greasing  keeps  the  body  warm.  Bad  to  hold  Water  too  long. 
Parts  colder  when  first  unclothed  than  afterwards,  why? 

It  Avas  a disgrace  among  the  ancient  Persians  to  cough  or  spit. 

Probably  as  it  argued  Intemperance. 

Vessels  when  too  full,  leak.  Quicksih-er  thro’  leather.  Thin  Fluid 
leaked  evaporates.  Corners  of  eyes,  etc.  Sizy  will  not  all  CA-aporate. 
Vdiat  is  left  corrupts.  Hence  Consumptions.  Hectic  FcAers,  from 
Absorption  of  Putrid  pus.  It  ferments  the  Blood  like  Yeast. 

People  seldom  get  Cold  at  Sea,  tho’  they  sleep  in  Wet  Clothes.  Con- 
stant Exercise.  Moderate  Living.  Bad  Cooks.  Yet  Air  is  A^ery  moist. 
Wet  Floors.  Sea  surrounding,  etc. 

Exercise  cures  a cold.  Bishop  Williams  riding  several  Miles  from 
London,  or  Exeter,  to  Salisbury. 


6S  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

Bark  good  for  a Cold,  taken  Early. 

Particular  Parts  more  accustomed  to  discharge  the  irritating  persp. 
matter,  as  under  the  Arms  in  some.  Feet  in  others,  etc. 

Exp^  of  two  Rasers. 

Every  Pain  or  Disorder  now  ascrib’d  to  a Cold. 

It  is  the  Covering  Excuse  of  all  Intemperance. 

Numbers  of  People  in  a close  Room,  and  exercising  there,  fill  the  air 
with  putrid  Particles. 

People  kill’d  by  House  of  Commons,  breathing  the  air  thro’  Holes  in 
Ceiling. 

Think  they  get  Cold  by  coming  out  of  such  hot  rooms;  they  get  them 
by  being  in. 

Those  that  live  in  hotter  Rooms  (stoves)  get  no  Colds. 

Germans  and  all  the  northern  people. 

Alderman  and  Turtle. 

People  remark,  they  were  very  well  before  a Cold  and  eat  hearty. 
Wonder  how  they  catch’d  it. 

Signs  of  Temperance. 

Mouth  not  clamy  after  Sleep. 

Saliva  thin  and  watery. 

Eyelids  not  stuck  together  with  hard  Glue. 

Voice  clear. 

No  Flegm  to  raise. 

Advice  for  Mode  of  general  Temperance  without  appearing  too 
singular. 

Supper  not  bad  after  preparatory  light  Dinner. 

May  be  rectify’d  by  slight  Breakfast  next  Morning. 

He  must  be  too  full  that  one  excess  will  much  disorder. 

Time  of  Great  Meal  mended  of  late. 

One  hour  variation  of  compass  in  20  years. 

After  Dinner  not  fit  for  Business. 

People  from  the  Country  get  Cold  when  they  come  to  London,  and 
why?  Full  Living  with  moist  Air.  London  air  generally  moist,  why. 
Much  putrid  air  in  London.  Silver,  etc. 

Cooks  and  Doctors  should  change  Maxims. 

Common  sense  more  common  among  the  common  Scotch. 


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69 


Those  ■n'lio  do  not  compare,  cannot  conceive  the  Difference  between 
themselves  and  themselves  in  full  or  spare  living 

Wet  Newspapers,  why  give  Colds  ? 

Old  Libraries,  and  damp  old  Books. 

Putrid  Animal  Matter  in  Paper  Size. 

Courts  should  not  sit  after  Dinner. 

Juries  fast,  a good  inst. 

Chess — Impatience  of  Deliberation  because  more  difficult.  Writing, 
etc. 

Most  Follies  arise  from  Full  feeding.  Reasons  pro  and  con  not  all 
present. 

Temperate  Nations  wisest. 

Dining  entertainments  bad. 

Rem.  of  Barbarism, — Expensive. 

Full  Feeding  of  Children  Stupefies. 

Fasting  Strengthens  Reason  rather  than  subdues  Passion. 

People  often  do  not  get  Cold  when  they  think  they  do,  and  do  when 
they  think  they  do  not. 

Causes  of  Colds  are  primary  and  secondary. 

Colds  are  of  different  kinds,  putrid  and  plethoric. 

Scarce  any  Air  abroad  so  unwholesome  as  Air  in  a close  room  often 
breath’d. 

Warm  Air  dissolves  more  Moisture  than  Cold. 

In  hot  Countries  men  wrap  themselves  in  wet  Sheets  to  sleep. 

A general  Service  to  redeem  People  from  the  slavish  Fear  of  getting 
cold,  by  showing  them  where  the  Danger  is  not,  and  that  where  it  is, 
’tis  in  their  Power  to  avoid  it. 

Surfeit,  an  Expression  formerly  us’d,  now  laid  aside. 

Costiveness  occasioning  Colds,  how  to  be  prevented. 

Colds  formerly  called  Rheums  and  Catarrhs. 

Particular  Foods  said  to  engender  Rheums. 

Query.  Is  Mr.  Wood  more  or  less  subject  to  catch  cold  since  he 
betook  himself  to  his  low  diet? 

Answer  (by  i\Ir.  Wood).  He  now  finds  himself  much  more  healthy, 
and  much  less  liable  to  catch  cold.  AMiat  few  colds  he  now  catches  are 
so  very  slight,  that  he  is  not  sensible  of  them,  but  from  the  urine,  which  is 
then  not  so  clear. 


70 


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I caused  the  above  question  to  be  asked  Mr.  Wood,  and  obtained  the 
answer.  It  is  the  Mr.  Wood  who  lives  upon  a pound  of  flour  in  a pudding. 

B.  Franklin. 


Fig.  22. — Sir  William  Watson,  M.D.,  1715-1787.  An  English  physician  and  botanist, 
awarded  the  Copley  medal  for  his  discoveries  in  Electricity.  Engraved  by  Thorn- 
thwaite,  from  the  portrait  by  Abbot. 

Dampier,  speaking  of  the  Customs  of  the  People  at  Mindanoo,  (p.  330), 
says,  “You  see  abundance  of  People  in  the  River  from  Morning  ’till 
night  washing  their  Bodies  or  Clothes;  they  strip  and  stand  naked  till 
they  have  done;  then  put  them  on  and  march  out  again,” 

Dr.  Gregory  says:  “All  that  Class  of  Diseases  which  arise  from 
catching  cold,  is  found  only  among  the  civilized  part  of  Mankind.  An 


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71 


old  Roman  or  an  Indian,  in  die  Pursuit  of  War  or  Hunting,  would  plunge 
into  a River  whilst  in  a profuse  sweat,  without  fear,  and  without  danger. 
The  greater  care  we  take  to  prevent  catching  cold,  by  the  various  contri- 
vances of  modern  Lmxury,  the  more  we  become  subject  to  it.  We  can 
guard  against  cold  only  by  rendering  superior  ourselves  to  its  Influence. 
There  is  a striking  instance  of  this  in  the  vigorous  constitutions  of 
children  who  go  thinly  clad  in  all  seasons  and  weathers.” 

The  Coats  of  the  Vessels  are  a kind  of  Network,  which  contains  the 
Fluids  only  when  not  so  press’d  as  to  enlarge  the  Pores  of  the  Net,  or 
when  the  Fluids  are  not  so  press’d  as  to  break  the  Cohesion  of  the 
Globules  or  Particles,  so  as  to  make  them  small  enough  to  come  through. 
Vlien  the  Vessels  are  full,  occasioned  by  a course  of  full  Living  they 
labour  in  carrying  on  the  Circulation;  their  Spring  or  Power  of  Con- 
traction and  Compressing  the  Fluids  they  contain,  being  overstrain’d  is 
weakened,  the  Circulation  proceeds  more  slowly,  the  Fluids  thicken  and 
become  more  gluey,  both  for  want  of  due  churning  and  because  less  Heat 
is  produc’d  in  the  body.  Such  a Body  requires  more  Aid  of  Clothing  and 
Fire  to  preserve  its  warmth. 

If  a Person  in  that  State  of  Body  walks  a Mile  or  two,  or  uses  any  other 
exercise  that  warms  him,  the  Fluids  are  rarefied  by  the  Heat,  distend  the 
Vessels  still' more,  and  the  thinner  Parts  of  the  Fluids  in  tender  Places 
force  out  thro’  the  Pores  of  the  Vessels  in  form  of  a gluey  AVater,  viz., 
at  the  Eyes,  within  the  Nose,  and  within  the  Lungs.  This  in  moderate 
Exercise. 

If  the  Exercise  is  increas’d  it  comes  through  every  Pore  in  the  Skin, 
and  is  called  Sweat. 

The  more  volatile  Parts  of  this  extravasated  Fluid  evaporate,  and 
fly  off  into  the  Air.  The  gluey  Part  remains,  thickens  and  hardens  more 
or  less,  as  it  becomes  more  or  less  dry;  in  the  Nose  and  on  the  Lungs, 
where  Air  is  continually  coming  and  going,  it  soon  becomes  a Mucous,  but 
can  hardly  grow  dryer  because  surrounded  with  moist  Parts  and  supply’d 
with  more  Moisture.  AAdiat  oozes  out  of  the  Corner  of  the  Eye  when 
shut,  as  in  Sleep,  hardens  into  what  is  called  a kind  of  Gum,  being  in 
fact  dry  Glue. 

This  in  a Morning  almost  sticks  the  Eyelids  together. 

AVith  some  Mucous  Matter  the  Nose  is  sometimes  almost  stopped,  and 
must  be  cleared  by  strong  Blowing. 


72  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

In  the  Windpipe  and  on  the  Lungs  it  gathers  and  is  impacted,  so  as 
sometimes  to  induce  a continual  Coughing  and  Hawking  to  discharge  it. 

If  not  easily  discharg’d,  but  remaining  long  adhering  to  the  Lungs,  it 
corrupts  and  inflames  the  Parts  it  is  in  contact  with;  even  behind  the 
Ears  and  between  the  Parts  of  the  Body  so  constantly  in  contact,  that 
the  Perspirable  Matter,  Sweat,  etc.,  cannot  easily  escape  from  between 
them:  the  Skin  is  inflamed  by  it,  and  a partial  Putrefaction  begins  to  take 
place,  they  corrupt  and  ulcerate.  The  Vessels  being  thus  wounded,  dis- 
charge greater  and  continual  Quantities.  Hence  Consumption. 

Part  of  the  corrupted  Matter,  absorbed  again  by  the  Vessels  and  mix’d 
with  the  Blood,  occasions  Hectic  Fevers. 

"When  the  Body  has  sweated,  not  from  a dissolution  of  Fluids,  but 
from  the  Force  above  mention’d,  as  the  Sweat  dries  off,  some  clammy 
Substance  remains  in  the  Pores,  which  closes  many  of  them,  wholly  or  in 
part.  The  subsequent  Perspiration  is  hereby  lessened. 

The  Perspirable  Matter  consists  of  Parts  approaching  to  Putrefaction, 
and  therefore  destin’d  by  Nature  to  be  thrown  off,  that  living  Bodies 
might  not  putrefy,  which  otherwise,  from  their  Warmth  and  Moisture, 
they  would  be  apt  to  do. 

These  corrupting  Particles,  if  continually  thrown  off,  the  remainder 
of  the  Body  continues  uncorrupt,  or  approaches  no  nearer  to  a state  of 
Putrefaction.  Just  as  in  Boiling  Water,  no  greater  degree  of  Heat  than 
the  Boiling  Heat  can  be  acquir’d  because  the  Particles  that  grow  hotter, 
as  fast  as  they  become  so,  fly  off  in  Vapour.  But  if  the  Vapour  could  be 
retain’d.  Water  might  be  made  much  hotter,  perhaps  red-hot,  as  Oil  may 
which  is  not  so  subject  to  Evaporation.  So  if  the  Perspirable  Matter  is 
retain’d  it  remixes  with  the  blood,  and  produces  first,  a slight  putrid 
fever,  attending  always  wdiat  we  call  a Cold,  and  when  retain’d  in  a great 
Degree,  more  mischievous  putrid  Diseases. 

In  hot  countries.  Exercise  of  the  Body  with  the  Heat  of  the  Climate 
create  much  of  this  putrid  perspirable  Matter,  which  ought  to  be  dis- 
charg’d. A check  in  those  Countries  very  pernicious;  Putrid  Malignant 
Violent  Fevers,  and  speedy  Death,  the  Consequence. 

Its  Discharge  is  also  check’d  another  Way  besides  that  of  closing  the 
Pores,  viz.  by  being  in  an  Air  already  full  of  it,  as  in  close  Rooms  con- 
containing  great  Numbers  of  people.  Playhouses,  Ballrooms,  etc. 

For  Air  containing  a Quantity  of  any  kind  of  Vapour,  becomes  thereby 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  73 

less  capable  of  imbibing  more  of  that  Vapour,  and  finally  will  take  no 
more  of  it. 

If  the  Air  will  not  take  it  off  from  the  Body,  it  must  remain  in  the  Body; 
and  the  Perspiration  is  as  effectually  stopt  and  the  Perspirable  Matter 
as  certainly  retain’d  as  if  the  Pores  were  all  stopt. 

A Lock  of  Wet  Wool  contained  in  a Nutmeg-Grater  may  dry,  parting 
with  its  Moisture  thro’  the  Holes  of  the  Grater.  But  if  you  stop  all  those 
Holes  with  wax  it  will  never  dry.  Nor,  if  expos’d  to  the  Air,  will  it 
dry  when  the  Air  is  as  moist  as  itself.  On  the  contrary,  if  already 
dry,  and  expos’d  to  moist  Air,  it  would  acquire  Moisture. 

Thus  People  in  Rooms  heated  by  a Multitude  of  People,  find  their  own 
Bodies  heated;  thence  the  quantity  of  perspirable  Matter  is  increased 
that  should  be  discharged,  but  the  Air,  not  being  changed,  grows  so  full 
of  the  same  Matter,  that  it  will  receive  no  more.  So  the  Body  must 
retain  it.  The  Consequence  is,  that  next  Day,  perhaps  sooner,  a slight 
putrid  Fever  comes  on,  with  all  the  Marks  of  what  we  call  a Cold,  and  the 
Disorder  is  suppos’d  to  be  got  by  coming  out  of  a warm  Room,  whereas  it 
was  really  taken  while  in  that  Room. 

Putrid  Ferments  beget  their  like.  Small-pox,  Wet  rotten  Paper, 
containing  Glue.  The  cold  Fever  communicable  by  the  Breath  to 
others,  etc. 

Urine  retain’d,  occasions  Sneezing,  etc. 

Coughing  and  Spitting  continually,  marks  of  Intemperance. 

People  eat  much  more  than  is  necessary. 

Proportionable  Nourishment  and  Strength  is  not  drawn  from  great 
Eating. 

The  succeeding  Meals  force  the  Preceding  thro’  half  undigested. 

Small  Meals  continue  longer  in  the  Body,  and  are  more  thoroughly 
digested. 

The  Vessels  being  roomy  can  bear  and  receiA'e  without  hurt,  an 
accidental  Excess. 

They  can  concrete  more  easily. 

There  is  less  quantity  of  corrupting  Particles  produc’d. 

Putrid  Fish  very  bad. 

Black  Hole  in  the  Indies. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidletin 


Franklin  wrote  the  following  purely  medical  letter. 

London,  July  14,  1773. 

To  Benjamin  Rush.^ 

Dear  Sir: 

I received  your  favour  of  INIay  1st,  with  the  pamphlet,  for  which  I am 
obliged  to  you.  It  is  well  written.  I hope  that  in  time  the  endeavours 


Fig.  23. — Dr.  Benjamin  Rush.  From  an  engraving  by  Dodson,  after  the 
painting  by  Sully. 

* Benjamin  Rush,  1745-1813.  Graduated  from  Princeton  College  in  1760.  Studied 
medicine  under  Dr.  Redman  for  six  years  and  then  went  abroad  and  graduated,  in 
1768,  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 
On  his  return,  was  appointed  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  College  of  Philadelphia 
in  1769,  and  in  1789,  Professor  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic  and  in  1792, 
Professor  of  the  Institutes  of  Medicine  and  Clinical  Medicine.  Teaching  medicine 
for  fourty-four  years  to  probably  about  2250  pupils.  In  1776  he  was  appointed 
Surgeon-General  of  the  .4rmy  for  the  Middle  Department.  He  was  a prolific  author, 
his  account  of  the  Yellow  Fever  being  his  most  celebrated  work.  Signer  of  the  Declar- 
ation of  Independence ; President  of  the  College  of  Physicians : Member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Philosophical  Society. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  75 

of  the  friends  to  liberty  and  humanity  will  get  the  better  of  a practice, 
that  has  so  long  disgraced  our  nation  and  religion.^ 

A few  days  after  I received  your  packet  for  M.  Dubourg,  I had  an 
opportunity  of  forwarding  it  to  him  per  M.  Poissonniere,  physician  of 
Paris,  who  kindly  undertook  to  deliver  it.  M.  Dubourg  has  been  trans- 
lating my  book  into  French.  It  is  nearly  printed,  and  he  tells  me  he 
purposes  a copy  for  you. 

I shall  communicate  your  judicious  remark,  relating  to  the  septic 
quality  of  the  air  transpired  by  patients  in  putrid  diseases,  to  my  friend 
Dr.  Priestley.  I hope  that  after  having  discovered  the  benefit  of  fresh 
and  cool  air  applied  to  the  sick,  people  will  begin  to  suspect  that  possibly 
it  may  do  no  harm  to  the  well.  I have  not  seen  Dr.  Cullen’s  book, 
but  am  glad  to  hear  that  he  speaks  of  catarrhs  or  colds  by  contagion. 
I have  been  long  satisfied  from  observation,  that  besides  the  general 
colds  now  termed  influenzas,  (which  may  possibly  spread  by  contagion, 
as  well  as  by  a particular  quality  of  the  air),  people  often  catch  cold 
from  one  another  when  shut  up  together  in  close  rooms,  coaches,  etc., 
and  when  sitting  near  and  conversing  so  as  to  breathe  in  each  other’s 
transpiration;  the  disorder  being  in  a certain  state.  I think,  too,  that  it 
is  the  frouzy,  corrupt  air  from  animal  substances,  and  the  perspired 
matter  from  our  bodies,  which  being  long  confined  in  beds  not  lately 
used,  and  clothes  not  lately  worn,  and  books  long  shut  up  in  close  rooms, 
obtains  that  kind  of  putridity,  which  occasions  the  colds  observed  upon 
sleeping  in,  wearing,  and  turning  over  such  bedclothes  or  books,  and 
not  their  coldness  or  dampness.  From  these  causes,  but  more  from 
too  full  living,  with  too  little  exercise,  proceed  in  my  opinion  most  of  the 
disorders  which  for  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  past  the  English 
have  called  colds. 

• As  to  Dr.  Cullen’s  cold  or  catarrh  a frigore,  I question  whether  such 
an  one  ever  existed.  Travelling  in  our  severe  winters,  I have  suffered 
cold  sometimes  to  an  extremity  only  short  of  freezing,  but  this  did  not 
make  me  catch  cold.  And,  for  moisture,  I have  been  in  the  river  every 
evening  two  or  three  hours  for  a fortnight  together,  when  one  would 
suppose  I might  imbibe  enough  of  it  to  take  cold  if  humidity  could  give  it; 

^ Benjamin  Rush  wrote,  “An  Address  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  British  Settlements 
in  America,  upon  Slave-Keeping.”  The  second  edition,  which  I have,  was  published 
in  Philadelphia  in  1773. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


but  no  such  effect  ever  followed.  Boys  never  get  cold  by  swimming.  Nor 
are  people  at  sea,  or  who  live  at  Bermudas,  or  St.  Helena,  small  islands, 
where  the  air  must  be  ever  moist  from  the  dashing  and  breaking  waves 
against  their  rocks  on  all  sides,  more  subject  to  colds  than  those  who 
inhabit  part  of  a continent  where  the  air  is  driest.  Dampness  may  indeed 
assist  in  producing  putridity  and  those  miasmata  which  infect  us  with 
the  disorder  we  call  a cold;  but  of  itself  can  never  by  a little  addition  of 
moisture  hurt  a body  filled  with  watery  fluids  from  head  to  foot. 

With  great  esteem,  and  sincere  wishes  for  your  welfare,  I am.  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

B.  Franklin. 


THE  MEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  William  Pepper,  M.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathology,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  following  Franklin  reiterates  his  views  on  the  same  subject, 
that  is  colds,  but  adds  a little  vital  statistics. 

West  Wycomb,  the  Seat  of  Lord  Le  Despencer.  Sept.  25,  1773. 
To  Thomas  Percival.^ 

. . . The  Difference  of  Deaths,  between  1 in  28  at  Manchester, 

and  1 in  120  at  Morton,  is  surprising.  It  seems  to  show  the  Lnwhole- 
someness  of  the  Manufacturing  Life;  owing  perhaps  to  the  Confinement 
in  small.  Close  Rooms,  or  in  larger  with  Numbers,  or  to  Poverty  and 
want  of  Necessaries,  or  to  Drinking,  or  to  all  of  them.  Farmers  who 
manufacture  in  their  own  Families  wLat  they  have  occasion  for  and  no 
more,  are  perhaps  the  happiest  People  and  the  healthiest. 

’tis  a curious  Remark  that  Moist  Seasons  are  the  healthiest.  The 
Gentry  of  England  are  remarkably  afraid  of  Moisture,  and  of  Air. 
But  Seamen,  who  live  in  perpetually  moist  Air,  are  always  Healthy,  if 
they  have  good  Provisions.  The  Inhabitants  of  Bermuda,  St.  Helena, 
and  other  Islands  far  from  Continents,  surrounded  with  Rocks  against 
which  the  Waves  continually  dashing  fill  the  Air  with  Spray  and  Vapor, 
and  where  no  Wind  can  arrive  that  does  not  pass  over  much  Sea,  and 
of  course  bring  much  Moisture.  These  People  are  remarkably  healthy. 
And  I have  long  thought  that  mere  moist  Air  has  no  ill  Effect  on  the 
Constitution;  tho’  Air  impregnated  with  Vapours  from  putrid  Marshes 
is  found  pernicious,  not  from  the  Moisture,  but  the  Putridity.  It  seems 
strange  that  a Man  whose  Body  is  compos’d  in  great  Quantities  of  Water 
and  Small  Beer  daily  without  Inconvenience,  should  fancy  that  a little 

^ Thomas  Percival,  1740-1S04.  A popular  English  medical  and  moral  writer, 
practiced  in  Manchester  and  was  the  founder  of  the  Philosophical  Society  in  that 
city. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidlctin 


more  or  less  INIoisture  in  the  Air  should  be  of  such  Importance.  But  we 
abound  in  Absurdity  and  Inconsistency. 

Thus,  tho’  it  is  generally  allowed  that  taking  the  Air  is  a good  Thing, 
yet  what  Caution  against  Air,  what  stopping  of  Crevices,  what  wrapping 
up  in  warm  clothes,  what  shutting  the  Doors  and  Windows!  even  in 
the  midst  of  Summer!  IMany  London  Families  go  out  once  a Day  to 
take  the  Air;  three  or  four  Persons  in  a Coach,  one  perhaps  Sick;  these 
go  three  or  four  Miles,  or  as  many  Turns  in  Hide  Park,  with  the  Glasses 
both  up  close,  all  breathing  over  & over  again  the  same  Air  they  brought 
out  of  Town  with  them  in  the  Coach  with  the  least  change  possible,  and 
render’d  worse  and  worse  every  moment.  And  this  they  call  taking  the 
Air.  From  many  Years’  Observation  on  myself  and  others,  I am 
persuaded  we  are  on  the  wrong  Scent  in  supposing  Moist  or  cold  Air  the 
Causes  of  that  Disorder  we  call  a Cold.  Some  unknown  Quality  in  the 
Air  may  perhaps  produce  Colds  as  in  the  Influenza,  but  generally  I 
apprehend  they  are  the  Effects  of  too  full  Living  in  proportion  to  our 
exercise. 

Excuse,  if  you  can,  my  intruding  into  your  Province,  and  believe 
me  ever  with  sincere  Esteem,  dear  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

B.  Franklin. 

! That  he  suffered  occasionally  from  his  enthusiasm  for  investigating 
various  natural  phenomena  is  here  apparent.  Probably  he  had  an 
attack  of  malaria. 

Craven  Street,  April  10,  1774. 

To  Joseph  Priestley.^ 

. . . I have  tried  the  experiment  twice  here  in  England,  but  without 

success.  The  first  was  in  a slow  running  water  with  a muddy  bottom. 
The  second  in  a stagnant  water  at  the  bottom  of  a deep  ditch.  Being 
some  time  employed  in  stirring  this  water,  I ascribed  an  intermitting 
fever,  which  seized  me  a few  days  later,  to  my  breathing  too  much  of 
that  foul  air,  which  I stirred  up  from  the  bottom,  and  which  I could  not 
avoid  while  I stooped,  endeavoring  to  kindle  it.  The  discoveries  you 

‘Joseph  Priestley,  1733-1804.  Eminent  English  philosopher,  chemist  and  theo- 
logian. Franklin,  who  met  him  in  London,  encouraged  him  to  write  a “ History  of 
Electricity.”  Priestley  dedicated  his  "Description  of  a New  Chart  of  History”  to 
ErankUn. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


79 


have  lately  made,  of  the  manner  in  which  inflammable  air  is  in  some 
cases  produced,  may  throw  light  on  this  experiment,  and  explain  its 
succeeding  in  some  cases,  and  not  in  others. 

AYith  the  highest  esteem  and  respect,  I am,  dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
humble  servant, 

B.  Franklin. 


Fig.  24. — Dr.  William  Hewson.  Engraved  by  H.  Robinson  from  a mezzotint- 

by  Vandergucht. 

In  the  following  brief  paragraph  Franklin  tells  his  wife  about  Dr. 
^Yilliam  Hewson’s^  illness.  His  prognosis  in  this  case  was  wrong  as 
Dr.  Hewson  died  three  days  later  of  an  infected  dissection  wound. 

‘ William  Hewson,  1739-1774.  His  wife,  Mary  Stevenson,  was  a great  friend  of 
Benjamin  Franklin  who  lodged  at  her  mother’s  house.  It  is  very  likeb^  that  Miss 
Stevenson  and  Dr.  Hewson  met  through  their  common  friend,  Benjamin  Franklin. 
Dr.  Hewson  studied  under  William  and  John  Hunter  and  became  an  anatomical 
demonstrator  in  their  school,  and  later  partner  with  William  Hunter.  He  was 


80 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


London,  April  28,  1774. 

To  Mrs.  Deborah  Franklin. 

. . . My  blessing  to  the  children.  Mrs.  Hewson’s  have  lately 

had  the  small-pox;  the  eldest  in  the  common  way  very  full,  the  youngest 
by  inoculation  lightly,  and  both  are  now  well.  But  Mr.  Hewson  is  down 
with  a terrible  fever,  and  till  yesterday,  his  life  was  despaired  of.  We 
now  begin  to  hope  his  recovery. 

iln  a letter  to  Arthur  Lee  under  date,  April  3,  1778  written  at  Passy, 
Franklin  reveals  himself  as  an  alienist. 

. . . If  you  do  not  cure  yourself  of  this  Temper  it  will  end  in 

Insanity,  of  which  it  is  the  Symptomatick  Forerunner,  as  I have  seen 
in  several  Instances.  God  preserve  you  from  so  terrible  an  Evil;  and 
for  his  sake  pray  suffer  me  to  live  in  quiet.  . . . 

Many  references  are  to  be  found  among  the  letters  received  by  Franklin 
to  a cure  for  dropsy  that  he  was  supposed  to  have  discovered.  Doctors 
and  others  wrote  to  him  from  all  over  Europe  asking  for  particulars. 
John  Stewart,  of  London,  in  1777  writes,  for  example,  as  follows: 

. . . In  one  of  our  newspapers  of  this  week  it  is  asserted  that 

you  had  recommended  the  use  of  tobacco  ashes  to  the  physicians  at  Paris 
in  the  cases  of  ascites,  an  anasarca,  an  oedema,  and  every  species  of 
hydropical  complaint.  That  they  in  consequence  had  made  many  experi- 
ments and  that  all  of  them  had  been  followed  by  a surprising  and  speedy 
cure.  \Vhat  proportion  of  these  ashes  goes  to  a dose  and  how  often  to 
be  taken  in  the  twenty-four  hours  ? . . . 

Franklin  in  reply  to  one  of  these  inquiries  wrote  to  Dr.  Daniel  Nunez 
de  Tavarez,  of  Zwolle,  Overyssel. 

elected  a Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  largely  on  the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Franklin. 
Awarded  the  Copley  Medal  for  his  work  on  the  lymphatic  system  in  birds,  amphib- 
ious animals  and  fishes.  He  later  started  a school  of  his  own.  He  dedicated  the 
second  part  of  his  Description  of  the  Lymphatic  System  in  the  Human  Subject  to 
Benjamin  Franklin.  Franklin  had  a print  of  Dr.  Hewson  framed  in  his  study. 
He  died  in  his  thirty-fifth  year  from  septic  fever,  the  result  of  a dissection  wound. 
His  son.  Dr.  Thomas  Tickell  Hewson,  was  President  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of 
Philadelphia. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


81 


Paris,  January  4,  1778. 

Sir: 

The  account  given  in  the  newspapers  of  my  having  furnished  the 
Physicians  with  a receipt  against  the  dropsy  is  a mistake.  I know  nothing 
of  it,  nor  did  I ever  hear  before  that  tobacco  ashes  had  any  such  virtue. 
I thank  you  for  your  kind  congratulations  on  our  late  successes  and  good 
wishes  for  the  establishment  of  our  liberty. 

I have  the  honour  to  be  respectfully,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

B.  Franklin. 

In  John  Adams’  autobiography  occurs  a very  humorous  account  of 
how  Franklin  never  allowed  a chance,  to  impress  upon  all  his  views 
on  fresh  air,  escape  him.  It  seems  that  John  Adams  and  Benjamin 
Franklin  were  travelling  together  in  1776  and  the  diary  reads,  “At 
Brunswick,  but  one  bed  could  be  procured  for  Dr.  Franklin  and  me, 
in  a chamber  little  larger  than  the  bed,  without  a chimney  and  with  only 
one  small  window.  The  window  was  open,  and  I who  was  an  invalid 
and  afraid  of  the  air  of  night,  shut  it  close.  ‘Oh,’  says  Franklin,  ‘don’t 
shut  the  window,  we  shall  be  suffocated.’  I answered  I was  afraid  of 
the  evening  air.  Dr.  Franklin  replied,  ‘The  air  within  this  chamber  will 
soon  be,  and  indeed  is  now,  worse  than  that  without  doors.  Come 
open  the  window  and  come  to  bed,  and  I will  convince  you.  I believe 
you  are  not  acquainted  with  my  theory  of  colds?’  Opening  the 
Avindow,  and  leaping  into  bed,  I said  I had  read  his  letters  to  Dr. 
Cooper,  in  which  he  had  advanced,  that  nobody  ever  got  cold  by  going 
into  a cold  church  or  any  other  cold  air,  but  the  theory  Avas  so  little  con- 
sistent Avith  my  experience,  that  I thought  it  a paradox.  HoweA^er,  I 
had  so  much  curiosity  to  hear  his  reasons  that  I would  run  the  risk  of 
a cold.  The  Doctor  then  began  a harangue  upon  air  and  cold,  and 
respiration  and  perspiration,  Avith  AA'hich  I AA’as  so  much  amused  that 
I soon  fell  asleep,  and  left  him  and  his  philosophy  together,  but  I belieA'e 
they  were  equally  sound  and  insensible  within  a feAv  minutes  after  me, 
for  the  last  Avords  I heard  were  pronounced  as  if  he  Avas  more  than 
half  asleep.  I remember  little  of  the  lecture,  except  that  the  human 
body,  by  respiration  and  perspiration,  destroys  a gallon  of  air  in  a 
minute;  that  two  such  persons  as  we  Avere  noAv  in  that  chamber,  would 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


consume  all  the  air  in  it  in  an  hour  or  two;  that  by  breathing  over  again 
the  matter  thrown  off  by  the  lungs  and  the  skin,  we  should  imbibe  the 
real  cause  of  colds,  not  from  abroad,  but  from  within.” 


Fig.  25. — Dr.  John  Hunter. 

According  to  John  Adams,  it  was  the  opinion  of  Franklin’s  own 
physician,  Dr.  Jones,  that  he  fell  a sacrifice  at  last,  not  to  the  stone,  but 
to  his  own  theory,  having  caught  the  violent  cold  which  finally  choked 
him,  by  sitting  for  some  hours  at  a window  with  the  cold  air  blowing 
upon  him. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  83 

About  this  time  John  Hunter  wrote  the  following  interesting 
letter : 

“ Dr.  Hunter’s^  compliments  to  Dr.  Franklin.  He  has  some  prepara- 
tions which  he  intends  giving  away  and  if  they  would  be  acceptable  to 
Dr.  Franklin,  he  should  be  glad  to  see  him  any  morning  (except  Tuesday) 
from  9 to  10  or  11  for  a few  minutes.” 

In  1777  Alexander  Small  wrote  Franklin  that  he  would  send  him  a 
copy  of  a paper  on  ventilation  of  hospitals  that  he  had  written,  begging 
Franklin  to  put  the  finishing  touches  to  it. 

On  May  26,  1778,  Barbeu  Dubourg  wrote  to  Dr.  Franklin  asking  him 
whether  hernia,  especially  umbilical  hernia,  was  as  common  in  America 
as  in  Europe. 

Franklin  held  very  advanced  and  humanitarian  views  on  the  question  / 
of  holding  surgeons  prisoners  of  war. 


Passy,  Sept.  17,  1779. 

To  John  D.  Schweighauser. 

1 should  think  it  would  be  right  to  discharge  Mr.  Hill,  the  Surgeon. 
I am  sorry  he  has  been  kept  so  long.  In  my  Opinion  Surgeons  should 
never  be  detain’d  as  Prisoners,  as  it  is  their  Duty  and  their  Practice  to 
help  the  sick  and  wounded  of  either  side  when  they  happen  to  have  an 
Opportunity.  They  should  therefore  be  considered  not  as  Parties  in  any 
way,  but  as  friends  to  Humanity. 

Dr.  Franklin  must  have  been  amused  by  receiving  about  the  same 
time  letters  from  Benjamin  Waterhouse^  and  John  Fothergill.  On 

* John  Hunter,  1728-1793.  Born  near  Glasgow.  Worked  a few  years  with  a 
cabinet  maker,  then  was  employed  in  1748  in  London  by  his  brother,  WilUam,  as  an 
assistant  in  his  dissecting  room.  In  1754  became  his  brother’s  partner,  and  lectured 
regularly.  In  1767,  elected  a Fellow  of  the  Ilo}'al  Society.  Great  comparative 
anatomist,  physiologist,  and  surgeon.  Founded  a great  museum  which  it  is  said 
to  have  cost  him  £70,000. 

2 Benjamin  Waterhouse,  1754-1846.  Born  in  Newport,  R.  I.  He  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Leyden  in  1780.  Studied  in  London,  living  in  the  family 
of  Dr.  John  Fothergill,  and  also  in  Edinburgh.  Introduced  vaccination  into  the 
United  States,  ^’accinated  on  July  8,  1800,  his  son.  Sent  some  threads  to  Thomas 
Jefferson  who  vaccinated  all  his  immediate  family  and  probably  himself.  Edward 
Jenner  sent  him  a silver  snuff  box  containing  vaccine  and  a set  of  lancets.  Was 
elected  the  first  Professor  of  Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic  at  Harv^ard  in  1782,  and 
occupied  that  chair  for  thirty  years. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidletin 


December  16,  1780,  Waterhouse  wrote  from  Leyden  saying  that  he 
proposed  going  to  Boston  to  practice  and  that  he  believed  it  not  so 
necessary  for  men  to  go  to  Europe  in  order  to  cure  the  diseases  of  their 
next  door  neighbors.  He  also  says  that  he  learnt  many  things  from  Dr. 
Fothergill  during  his  stay  with  him  and  that  he  had  read  with  interest,  the 
French  medical  works  Dr.  Franklin  gave  him.  On  December  25,  1780, 
John  Fothergill  wrote  to  Franklin  and  expressed  a hope  that  his  friend 
and  relative.  Dr.  Waterhouse,  Avould  teach  in  the  future  Massachusetts 
College  of  Medicine;  as  yet  he  was  too  young  and  inexperienced.  Just 
two  years  later.  Dr.  Waterhouse  was  chosen  Professor  of  Theory  and 
Practice  of  Physic  at  Harvard. 


Fig.  26. — Dr.  Benjamin  Waterhouse.  Engraved  by  R.  Reeve. 

An  interesting  observation  is  found  at  the  end  of  a letter  here  quoted. 
His  treatment  of  the  gout  reminds  one  of  William  Harvey’s  method  of 
sitting  with  his  legs  bare,  on  the  leads  of  Cockaine-House,  or  putting 
them  in  a pail  of  cold  water. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


85 


Passy,  July  22,  1780. 


To  Alexander  Small.' 

. . . You  inquired  about  my  gout,  and  I forgot  to  acquaint  you 

that  I had  treated  it  a little  cavalierly  in  its  two  last  accesses.  Finding 
one  night  that  my  foot  gave  me  more  pain  after  it  was  covered  warm 
in  bed,  I put  it  out  of  bed  naked,  and  perceiving  it  easier,  I let  it  remain 
longer  than  I at  first  designed,  and  at  length  fell  asleep  leaving  it  there 
till  morning.  The  pain  did  not  return,  and  I grew  well.  Next  winter, 
having  a second  attack,  I repeated  the  experiment,  not  with  such  imme- 
diate success  in  dismissing  the  gout,  but  constantly  with  the  effect  of 
rendering  it  less  painful,  so  that  it  permitted  me  to  sleep  every  night.  I 
should  mention,  that  it  was  my  son  who  gave  me  the  first  intimation  of 
this  practice.  He  being  in  the  old  opinion,  that  the  gout  was  to  be 
drawn  out  by  transpiration,  and  having  heard  me  say,  that  perspiration 
was  carried  on  more  copiously  when  the  body  was  naked,  than  when 
clothed,  he  put  his  foot  out  of  bed  to  increase  that  discharge,  and  found 
ease  by  it,  which  he  thought  a confirmation  of  the  doctrine.  But  this 
method  requires  to  be  confirmed  by  more  experiments,  before  one  can 
conscientiously  recommend  it.  I give  it  you,  however,  in  exchange 
for  your  receipt  of  tartar  emetic,  because  the  commerce  of  philosophy 
as  well  as  other  commerce,  is  best  promoted  by  taking  care  to  make 
returns.  I am  ever  yours  most  affectionately. 


B.  Franklin. 


One  of  Fi'anklin’s  “bagatelles,”  although  meant  primarily  to  be 
humorous,  combines  as  did  many  of  his  writings,  both  wit  and  meaning. 
It  is  well  worth  perusal,  but  its  length  precludes  my  quoting  it  in  full. 
In  the  New  York  Medical  Journal  of  January  2,  1909,  Dr.  Charles 
Greene  Cumston,  in  an  article  entitled  Benjamin  Franklin  from  the 
IMedical  Viewpoint,  gives  the  whole  of  this  comical  dialogue;  it  may  be 
found  as  well  in  the  various  collected  writings  of  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Dialogue  between  Franklin  and  the  Gout. 

Midnight,  October  22,  1780. 

Franklin.  Eh!  Oh!  Eh!  YJiat  have  I done  to  merit  these  cruel  suffer- 
ings ? 

* Alexander  Small.  An  English  Army  Surgeon  and  a member  of  the  Society  of 
Arts.  Author  of  a paper  on  Ventilation,  read  before  the  French  Academy  of  Sciences. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Gout. 

Franklin. 

Gout. 

Franklin. 

Gout. 

Franklin. 


Gout. 


iNIany  things;  you  have  ate  and  drank  too  freely,  and  too 
much  indulged  those  legs  of  yours  in  their  indolence. 

AYho  is  it  that  accuses  me? 

It  is  I,  even  I,  the  Gout. 

^Miat!  my  enemy  in  person? 

No,  not  your  enemy. 

I repeat  it;  my  enemy;  for  you  would  not  only  torment  my 
body  to  death,  but  riJin  my  good  name;  you  reproach  me 
as  a glutton  and  a tippler;  now  all  the  world,  that  knows 
me,  will  allow  that  I am  neither  the  one  nor  the  other. 

The  world  may  think  as  it  pleases,  it  is  always  very  com- 
plaisant to  itself,  and  sometimes  to  its  friends;  but  I very 
well  know  that  the  quantity  of  meat  and  drink  proper  for 
a man,  who  takes  a reasonable  degree  of  exercise,  would 
be  too  much  for  another,  who  never  takes  any.  . . . 


In  the  American  Philosophical  Society  collection,  there  is  a letter  of 
Benjamin  Franklin’s  to  Mme.  Brillon,  written  about  1781,  in  which 
he  denies  that  excessive  indulgence  in  sexual  pleasures  is  the  cause  of 
gout,  as  he  had  no  gout  when  he  was  a young  man. 

Franklin  had  been  elected  January  17,  1777,  a member  of  the  Royal 
iMedical  Society  of  Paris,  and  there  are  many  most  cordial  invitations 
to  be  present  at  meetings  from  Dr.  Vicq  d’Azyr,  who  was  the  permanent 
Secretary. 

An  excellent  illustration  of  how  Franklin  remembered  or  kept  a 
record  of  peculiar  or  interesting  facts,  from  which  he  often  later  drew 
important  deductions,  is  here  found. 

Passy,  July  20,  1781. 

To  Felix  Vicq  d’Azyr.  ^ 

. . . With  respect  to  the  length  of  time  during  which  the  Power 

of  Infection  may  be  continued  in  dead  Bodies,  which  is  considered  in 
that  Report,  I would  mention  to  you  three  Facts,  which,  though  not  all 
of  equal  Importance  or  weight,  yet  methinks  it  may  be  well  to  preserve 

^ Felix  Yicq  d’Azyr,  1748-1794.  Physician  in  ordinary  to  Marie  Antoinette. 
Eminent  as  a comparative  anatomist  and  physiologist.  Member  of  the  Academy 
of  Sciences.  Founder  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Medicine.  Member  of  the  French 
Academy. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


87 


a Memorandum  of  them,  that  such  Observations  may  be  made  when 
Occasion  offers,  as  are  proper  to  confirm  or  invalidate  them. 

While  I resided  in  England  I read  in  a Newspaper  that  in  a Country 
Village  at  the  Funeral  of  a Woman  whose  Husband  had  died  of  the 
Small-Pox  30  years  before,  and  whose  Grave  was  dug  so  as  to  place 
her  by  his  Side,  the  Neighbors  attending  the  Funeral  were  offended  with 
the  Smell  arising  out  of  the  Grave,  occasioned  by  a Breach  in  the  Hus- 
band’s old  Coffin,  and  25  of  them  were  in  a few  Days  after  taken  ill  with 
that  Distemper,  which  before  was  not  in  that  Village  or  its  Neighborhood, 
nor  had  been  for  the  Number  of  (years  above  mentioned). 

About  the  Years  1763  or  1764,  several  Physicians  of  London  who  had 
been  present  from  Curiosity  at  the  Dissection  of  an  Egyptian  Mummy, 
were  soon  after  taken  ill  of  a malignant  fever,  of  which  they  died.  Opin- 
ions were  divided  on  this  Occasion.  It  was  thought  by  some  that  the 
Fever  was  caused  by  Infection  from  the  Mummy;  in  which  Case  the 
Disease  it  died  of  must  have  been  embalmed  as  well  as  the  Body.  Others 
who  considered  the  Length  of  Time;  at  least  2000  Years,  since  that 
Body  died,  and  also  that  the  Embalming  must  be  rather  supposed  to 
destroy  the  Power  of  Infection,  imagined  the  Illness  of  these  Gentlemen 
must  have  had  another  Original. 

About  the  year  1773,  the  Captain  of  a Ship,  which  had  been  at  the 
Island  of  Tenneriffe,  brought  from  thence  the  dried  Body  of  one  of  the 
ancient  Inhabitants  of  that  Island,  which  must  have  been  at  least  300 
years  old,  that  custom  of  drying  the  Dead  there  having  been  so  long 
discontinued.  Two  members  of  the  Royal  Society  went  to  see  that 
body.  They  were  half  an  hour  in  a small  close  room  with  it,  examining 
it  very  particularly.  The  next  Day  they  were  both  affected  with  a 
singularly  violent  Cold,’^  attended  with  uncommon  circumstances, 
which  continued  a long  time.  On  comparing  together  the  Particulars 
of  their  Disorder,  they  agreed  in  suspecting  that  possibly  some  effluvia 
from  the  Body  might  have  been  the  occasion  of  that  Disorder  in  them 
both;  perhaps  they  were  mistaken.  But  as  we  do  not  yet  know  with 
Certainty  how  long  the  Power  of  Infection  may  in  some  Bodies  be 
retained,  it  seems  well  in  such  Cases  to  be  cautious  till  farther  Light 
shall  be  obtained.  . . . 


‘ Cold  is  a general  name  given  by  the  English  to  all  sorts  of  Rheumas  and  Catarrhs. 


88  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

A few  references  may  be  found  in  Franklin’s  diary  kept  from  1780 
to  1784 

Friday,  29th,  1780.  Went  by  particular  invitation  to  the  Sorbonne, 
to  an  assembly  of  the  Faculty  of  Physic  on  the  College  Hall,  where  we 
had  the  eloge  of  my  friend  M.  Dubourg  and  other  pieces.  Suffered  by 
the  cold.  . . . 

July  3d,  1784.  Mr.  Smeathman  comes  and  brings  two  English  or 
Scotch  Gentlemen;  one  a Chevalier  of  some  Order,  the  other  a Physician 
who  had  lived  long  in  Russia.  Much  Conversation.  Putrid  Fevers 
common  in  Russia,  and  in  Winter  much  more  than  in  Summer,  therefore 
supposed  to  be  owing  to  their  hot  Rooms.  In  a gentleman’s  House  there 
are  sometimes  one  hundred  domestics;  these  have  not  beds,  but  sleep 
twenty  or  thirty  in  a close  room  warmed  by  a stove,  lying  on  the  floor 
and  on  benches.  The  stoves  are  heated  by  wood.  As  soon  as  it  is  burnt 
to  coals,  the  chimney  is  stopped  to  prevent  the  escape  of  hot  and  entry 
of  cold  air.  So  they  breathe  the  same  air  over  and  over  again  all  night. 
These  fevers  he  cured  by  wrapping  the  patient  in  linen  wet  with  vinegar, 
and  making  them  breathe  the  vapor  of  vinegar  thrown  on  hot  bricks. 
The  Russians  have  the  art  of  distilling  spirit  from  milk.  To  prepare  it 
for  distillation  it- must,  when  beginning  to  sour,  be  kept  in  continual 
motion  or  agitation  for  twelve  hours;  it  then  becomes  a uniform  vinous 
liquor,  the  cream,  curd,  and  aqueous  part  or  whey,  all  intimately  mixed. 
Excellent  in  this  state  for  restoring  emaciated  bodies.  This  operation  on 
milk  was  discovered  long  since  by  the  Tartars,  who  in  their  rambling 
life  often  carry  milk  in  leather  bags  on  their  horses,  and  the  motion 
produced  the  effect.  It  may  be  tried  with  us  by  attaching  a large  keg 
of  milk  to  some  part  of  one  of  our  mills.  . . . 

An  intensely  interesting  medical  reference  is  in  the  Diary  of  Manasseh 
Cutler,  of  Massachusetts,  under  date  of  July  13,  1787,  in  which  he 
describes  a visit  to  Franklin’s  house  in  Philadelphia  and  among  other 
things  that  Cutler  saw  was  the  library;  he  says:  “I  presume  this  is  the 
largest  and  by  far  the  best  library  in  America.  He  showed  us  a glass 
machine  for  exhibiting  the  circulation  of  the  blood  in  the  arteries  and 
veins  of  the  human  body.  The  circulation  is  exhibited  by  the  passing 
of  a red  fluid  from  a reservoir  into  numerous  capillary  tubes  of  glass, 
ramifled  in  every  direction,  and  then  returning  in  similar  tubes  to  the 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  89 

reservoir,  which  was  done  with  great  velocity,  without  any  power  to  act 
visibly  upon  the  fluid,  and  had  the  appearance  of  perpetual  motion. 
But  what  the  Doctor  wished  principally  to  show  me  was  a huge  volume 
on  botany,  which  indeed  afforded  me  the  greatest  pleasure  of  any  one 
thing  in  his  library.  It  was  a single  volume,  but  so  large,  that  it  was 


Fig.  27. — Carl  Linnaeus.  Engraved  by  Wagstaff. 


with  great  difiiculty  that  he  was  able  to  raise  it  from  a low  shelf,  and 
lift  it  on  the  table.  But,  with  that  senile  ambition,  which  is  common  to 
old  people,  he  insisted  on  doing  it  himself,  and  would  permit  no  person 
to  assist  him,  merely  to  show  us  how  much  strength  he  had  remaining. 
It  contained  the  whole  Linnaeus’s^  Systema  Vegetabilium,  with  large  cuts 


^ Carl  Linnaeus,  1707-1778.  A celebrated  Swedish  botanist  and  naturalist. 
Professor  of  Botany  at  LTpsal  thirty-seven  years.  Author  of  a number  of  epoch- 
making  works  on  these  subjects. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidletin 


of  every  plant,  coloured  from  nature.  It  was  a feast  to  me,  and  the 
Doctor  seemed  to  enjoy  it  as  well  as  myself.  We  spent  a couple  of  hours 
in  examining  this  volume,  while  the  other  gentlemen  amused  themselves 
with  other  matters.  The  Doctor  is  not  a botanist,  but  lamented  he  did 
not  in  early  life  attend  to  this  science.  He  delights  in  natural  History.” 

Provost  Smith  who  was  not  a good  friend  of  Franklin’s,  but  who  was 
willing  to  preach  a sermon  about  him  after  he  died,  said  that  Benjamin 
Franklin  found  the  Pulse-Glass  in  Germany  and  introduced  it  into 
England,  with  Improvements  of  his  own. 


THE  MEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  William  Pepper,  M.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathology,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

A VERY  extraordinary  incident  in  Franklin’s  life  was  his  appointment 
on  the  commission  to  investigate  the  claims  of  Friederich  Anton  Mesmer.^ 


Fig.  28. — Friederich  Anton  Mesmer.  Engraved  by  Jules  Porreau. 

In  the  author’s  collection 

The  King  of  France  chose  as  members  of  this  commission  four  cele- 
brated French  physicians  of  the  Faculty  of  Paris;  these  were  Majault, 

^ Friederich  Anton  Mesmer.  1734-1815.  Founder  of  the  doctrine  of  Mesmerism 
or  animal  magnetism.  Bom  in  Suabia.  Graduated  from  Vienna  and  then  travelled 
widely,  returning  to  Vienna  he  began  to  practice  his  deceptions,  was  compelled  to 
leave  that  city  within  twenty-four  hours  through  the  report  of  a commission 
appointed  by  Maria  Theresa.  Went  to  Paris  where  he  had  a great  success. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Sallin,  D’Arcet,  and  Guillotin,  together  with  five  members  of  the  Royal 
Academy  who  were  to  confer  with  the  others. 

Franklin’s  name  appeared  first,  followed  by  that  of  Le  Roy,  Bailly, 
de  Bory,  and  LaAmisier,  all  distinguished  scientists  and  men  of  note. 

This  was  in  1784,  Franklin  was  living  at  Passy  just  outside  Paris. 

The  appointment  of  a foreigner  on  such  a commission  was  indeed  a 
great  honor,  a mark  of  appreciation,  and  one  that  would  haA^e  been 
tendered  to  but  very  feAV  others,  if  to  any. 

^Vhat  is  more,  Franklin  drew  up  the  report,  he  having  been  largely 
instrumental  in  exposing  Mesmer,  a part  he  was  eminently  fitted  for, 
and  one  in  AA’hich  it  is  easy  to  believe  he  took  much  satisfaction,  if  not 
actual  pleasure  in  doing. 

1 His  was  a mind  not  easily  decei\'ed  by  tricks  and  frauds,  his  matter- 
|of-fact  AA^ay  of  taking  a common  sense  view  of  such  affairs,  AAmuld  have 
‘ seen  behind  the  curtain  of  deception  and  folly  practiced  by  Mesmer, 
who  at  the  time  was  deluding  thousands  of  dupes  and  relieving  them  of 
thousands  of  pounds. 

Franklin’s  oAA’n  copy  of  the  report  is  in  the  Library  of  the  Pennsyh-ania 
Historical  Society,  and  is  a pamphlet  of  80  pages  describing  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  commission,  who  investigated  the  subject  for  fiA^e  months. 

This  report  is  still  worth  reading  and  every  student  of  mesmerism 
or  of  mental  therapeutics  would  do  well  to  peruse  it. 

In  1837  there  was  published  in  Philadelphia  a translation  of  the 
Report  of  the  commissioners,  together  Avith  a few  other  pieces  connected 
Avith  the  subject  of  animal  magnetism. 

“Animal  Magnetism.  Report  of  Dr.  Franklin  and  other  commissioners, 
charged  by  the  King  of  France  with  the  examination  of  the  animal 
magnetism  as  practiced  at  Paris.  Translated  from  the  French.  With  an 
Historical  Outline  of  the  “Science,”  etc.  Philadelphia,  1837.” 

A translation  had  also  appeared  in  1785  in  London.^ 

From  the  Report  we  learn  that  all  the  commissioners  attended  public 
exhibitions  of  M.  Deslon,  one  of  Mesmer’s  folloAvers,  then  they  all 
privately  submitted  themselves  to  the  action  of  the  magnetism  under  the 
direction  of  M.  Deslon  and  at  his  house.  Not  one  of  the  commissioners 
felt  any  sensation  from  this  process. 

' Report  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  other  Commissioners  charged  by  the 
King  of  France  with  the  examination  of  the  Animal  Magnetism,  as  now  practised  at 
Paris.  Translated  from  the  French,  with  an  Historical  introduction.  London,  1785. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


93 


In  addition  the  commissioners  decided  to  make  experiments  upon 
persons  really  diseased,  and  chose  them  first  out  of  the  lower  classes. 

Seven  of  these  meetings  were  held  at  Dr.  Franklin’s  house  at  Passy, 
and  M.  Deslon  performed  the  operations. 

The  widow  Saint-Amand,  asthmatic  having  the  belly,  legs,  and  thighs 
swelled,  and  dame  Anseaume,  who  had  a swelling  upon  her  thigh,  felt 
no  sensation.  In  four  no  effects  were  felt,  and  three  did  experience 
some  effects  from  the  operation. 

Then  to  obtain  further  light  it  was  resolved  to  select  some  patients 

from  the  polite  world  and  Mesdames  de  B and  de  V , Messieurs 

INI and  R, — — were  admitted  to  the  private  bucket  together  with  the 

commissioners.  This  bucket  was  a wooden  box  with  a number  of  iron 
jointed  rods  projecting  from  it  which  could  be  held  against  the  part  of 

the  body  that  was  diseased.  M.  R -,  whose  distemper  was  the 

remainder  of  an  obstruction  of  the  liver,  underwent  the  operation  three 

times  and  felt  nothing.  Madame  de  B severely  attacked  with  a 

nervous  disorder,  w'as  several  times  on  the  point  of  falling  asleep. 

Dr.  Franklin,  though  the  weakness  of  his  health  hindered  him  from 
coming  to  Paris,  was  magnetised  at  his  own  house  at  Passy. 

At  the  end  of  the  Report  may  be  found  the  conclusions  arrived  at. 

“ The  commissioners  having  convinced  themselves  that  the  animal  mag- 
netic fluid  is  capable  of  being  perceived  by  none  of  our  senses,  and  had 
no  action  upon  themselves  or  upon  the  subjects  of  their  several  experi- 
ments, being  assured,  that  the  touches  and  compressions  employed 
in  its  application  rarelv  occasioned  favourable  changes,  in  the  animal 
economy,  and  that  the  impressions  thus  made  are  always  hurtful  to  the 
imagination;  in  fine,  having  demonstrated  by  decisive  experiments,  that 
the  imagination  without  the  magnetism  produces  convulsions,  and 
that  the  magnetism  without  the  imagination  produces  nothing;  they 
have  concluded  with  an  unanimous  voice  respecting  the  existence  and 
the  utility  of  the  magnetism,  that  the  existence  of  the  fluid  is  absolutely 
destitute  of  proof,  that  the  fluid  having  no  existence  can  consequently 
have  no  use,  that  the  violent  symptoms  observed  in  the  public  process 
are  to  be  ascribed  to  the  compression,  to  the  imagination  called  into 
action  and  to  that  propensity  to  mechanical  imitation,  which  leads  us  in 
spite  of  ourselves  to  the  repetition  of  what  strikes  our  senses,  and  at  the 


94  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

same  time  they  think  themselves  obliged  to  add  as  an  important  obser- 
vation, that  the  compressions  and  the  repeated  action  of  the  imagination 
employed  in  producing  the  crisis  may  be  hurtful,  that  the  sight  of  these 
crises  is  not  less  dangerous  on  account  of  that  imitation  which  nature 


Fig.  29. — Antoine  Laurent  Lavoisier.  Engraved  by  L.  Portman. 

seems  to  have  imposed  upon  us  as  a law,  and  that  of  consequence  every 
public  process,  in  which  the  means  of  the  animal  magnetism  shall  be 
employed  cannot  fail  in  the  end  of  producing  the  most  pernicious  effects. 
. . . The  commissioners  were  of  consequence  obliged  to  conclude 

that  not  only  the  measure  in  a particular  mode  of  proceeding  but  the 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


95 


measures  of  a magnetism  in  general,  might  in  the  end  produce  the  most 
pernicious  effects. 

“Paris,  the  11th  day  of  August,  1784. 

(signed)  B.  Franklin  Sallin  de  Bory 

Majault  Bailly  Guillotin' 

le  Roy  d’Arcet  Lavoisier^” 


Fig.  30. — Dr.  Joseph  Ignace  Guillotin.  From  a rare  French  hthograph 
in  the  author’s  possession. 

‘ Joseph  Ignace  Guillotin,  1738-1814.  A French  physician.  One’of  the  founders 
of  the  Academy  of  Medicine  in  Paris.  He  contemplated  removing’to  America  with 
a party  of  twelve  intending  to  settle  near  Louisville,  Kentucky,  but  the  death  by 
drowning  in  the  Ohio  river  of  one  of  his  companions  who  had  started  in  advance, 
deterred  him.  Franklin  wrote  him  several  letters  in  this  connection. 

* Antoine  Laurent  Lavoisier,  1743-1794.  An  illustrious  French  chemical  philos- 
opher and  the  chief  founder  of  modem  chemistry  and  of  quantitative  analysis.  Was 
guillotined  in  1794. 


96 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Franklin’s  first  reference  to  this  subject  was  in  the  following  letter 
written  just  about  the  time  the  commission  began  its  labor,  though 
no  reference  is  made  to  that  body. 

Passy,  March  19,  1784. 

To  La  Sabliere  De  La  Condamine. 

Sir: — I received  the  very  obliging  Letter  you  did  me  honour  of  writing 
to  me  the  8th  inst.  with  the  epigram  etc.  for  which  please  to  accept  my 
Thanks. 

You  desire  my  Sentiments  concerning  the  Cures  perform’d  by  Comus 
& Mesmer.  I think  that  in  general  Maladies  caus’d  by  Obstruc- 
tions may  be  treated  by  Electricity  with  Advantage.  As  to  the  Animal 
Magnetism,  so  much  talk’d  of,  I am  totally  unacquainted  with  it,  and 
I must  doubt  its  Existence  till  I can  see  or  feel  some  Effect  of  it.  None  of 
I the  Cures  said  to  be  perform’d  by  it,  have  fallen  under  my  Observation; 
and  there  being  so  many  Disorders  which  cure  themselves  and  such  a 
Disposition  in  Mankind  to  deceive  themselves  and  one  another  on 
these  Occasions,  and  living  long  having  given  me  frequent  Opportunities 
of  seeing  certain  Remedies  cry’d  up  as  curing  everything,  and  yet  soon 
after  totally  laid  aside  as  useless.  I cannot  but  fear  that  the  Expectation 
of  great  Advantage  from  the  new  method  of  treating  Diseases,  will 
prove  a Delusion.  That  Delusion  may  however  in  some  cases  be  of  use 
while  it  lasts.  There  are  in  every  great  City  a Number  of  Persons  who 
are  never  in  health,  because  they  are  fond  of  Medicines  and  always 
taking  them,  whereby  they  derange  the  natural  Functions,  and  hurt 
their  Constitutions.  If  these  People  can  be  persuaded  to  forbear  their 
Drugs  in  Expectation  of  being  cured  by  only  the  Physician’s  Finger  or 
an  Iron  Rod  pointing  at  them,  they  may  possibly  find  good  Effects  tho’ 
they  mistake  the  Cause.  I have  the  honour  to  be.  Sir,  &c. 

B.  Franklin. 

Just  after  the  report  had  appeared  Franklin  wrote  to  his  grandson. 

Passy,  Aug.  25,  1784.  Wednesday, 

To  William  Temple'  Franklin. 

. . . The  Report  is  published  and  makes  a great  deal  of  Talk. 

Everybody  agrees  that  it  is  well  written;  but  many  wonder  at  the  Force 
of  Imagination  describ’d  in  it,  as  occasioning  Convulsions,  etc.,  and 
some  fear  that  Consequences  may  be  drawn  from  it  by  Infidels  to 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


97 


weaken  our  Faith  in  some  of  the  Miracles  of  the  New  Testament.  I 
send  you  two  more  Copies.  You  would  do  well  to  give  one  to  the  French 
Ambassador,  if  he  has  not  had  it.'  Some  think  it  will  put  an  End  to 
hlesmerism.  But  there  is  a wonderful  deal  of  Credulity  in  the  AYorld, 
and  Deceptions  as  absurd,  have  supported  themselves  for  Ages. 

I send  you  a few  more  Letters  and  am 

Your  affectionate  Grandfather, 

B.  Franklin. 

Passy,  Sept.  8,  1784. 

And  again: 

. . . P.  S.  Mesmer  has  complain’d  to  the  Parliament  of  our 

Report,  and  requested  that  they  would  appoint  Commissaries,  to  whom 
he  might  submit  the  Examination  of — not  his  Theory  and  Practice,  but— 
un  Plan  qui  renfermera  les  seuls  moyens  possibles  de  constater  infail- 
liblement  I’existence  & I’utilite  de  sa  decouverte.  The  Petition  was 
printed.  Many  thought  the  Parliament  would  do  nothing  in  it.  But  they 
had  laid  hold  of  it  to  clinch  Mesmer,  and  obliged  him  to  expose  all 
directly.  So  that  it  must  be  seen  whether  there  is  any  difference  between 
his  Art  & Desler’s.  . . . 

A curious  reference  may  be  found  in  the  following  letter  to  the  success 
attending  Franklin’s  medical  advice  and  the  consideration  with  which 
it  was  received. 

Passy,  March  17,  1783. 

To  the  Earl  of  Buchan. 

I do  not  recollect  the  Circumstances  you  are  pleas’d  to  mention, 
of  my  having  sav’d  a citizen  of  St.  Andrew’s,  by  giving  a Turn  to  his 
disorder,  and  I am  curious  to  know  what  the  Disorder  was,  and  what  the 
Advice  I gave  which  proved  so  salutary.  With  great  Regard,  I have  the 
honour  to  be,  &c.  B.  Franklin. 

It  was  a fever  of  which  the  Earl  of  Buchan,  then  Lord  Cardross, 
lay  ill  at  St.  Andrews,  and  the  advice  was  not  to  blister,  according  to 
the  old  practice,  and  the  opinion  of  the  learned  Doctor  Simpson,  brother 
of  the  celebrated  geometrician  at  Glascow. 

In  the  American  Philosophical  Society  is  the  original  letter  from  the 
Earl  of  Buchan  to  Franklin,  to  which  the  above  is  a reply.  It  is  dated 


98 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  B^dletin 


February  18,  1783,  and  in  it  the  Earl  writes;  “You  were  entitled  to  a 
civic  crown  on  my  account  a great  many  years  ago,  when,  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  St.  Andrews,  you  gave  a turn  to  the  career  of  a disorder,  which 
then  threatened  my  life.” 

On  April  25,  1783,  Guinchard  of  Armojon,  writes  to  Dr.  Franklin 
and  tells  him  of  the  results  obtained  with  the  electrical  treatment  of  a 
little  two  year  old  paralitic  girl,  and  begs  Franklin’s  opinion  and  advice. 

Another  reference  to  his  gout. 

Passy,  Sept.  7,  1783. 

To  Mrs.  Mary  Hewson. 

I have  been  lately  ill  with  a Fit  of  the  Gout,  if  that  may  indeed  be 
called  a Disease.  I rather  suspect  it  to  be  a Remedy,  since  I always 
find  my  Health  and  Vigour  of  Mind  improv’d  after  the  Fit  is  over.  I 
am  ever,  my  dear  Friend,  yours  most  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 

On  Nov.  15,  1783,  one,  Rouzier  of  Montargis,  writes  an  account  of 
his  sufferings  from  gout  and  begs  Dr.  Flanklin  to  aid  him  in  regaining 
his  health. 

Alany  references  appear  in  the  later  years  to  the  stone  that  Franklin 
had  in  his  bladder. 

Passy,  December  6,  1783. 

To  Comte  De  Vergennes. 

Sir:  Being  now  disabled  by  the  Stone,  which  in  the  easiest  Carriage 
gives  me  Pain,  wounds  my  Bladder,  and  occasions  me  to  make  bloody 
Urine,  I find  I can  no  longer  pay  my  Devoirs  personally  at  Versailles, 
which  I hope  will  be  excused. 

Passy,  Jan.  6,  1784. 

To  John  Jay. 

It  is  true,  as  you  have  heard,  that  I have  the  stone,  but  not  that  I had 
thoughts  of  being  cut  for  it.  It  is  as  yet  very  tolerable.  It  gives  me  no 
pain  but  when  in  a Carriage  on  the  Pavement,  or  when  I make  some 
quick  movement.  If  I can  prevent  its  growing  larger,  which  I hope  to 
do  by  abstemious  living  and  gentle  exercise,  I can  go  on  pretty  com- 
fortably with  it  to  the  end  of  my  Journey,  which  can  now  be  at  no  great 
distance.  I am  cheerful,  enjoy  the  company  of  my  Friends,  sleep 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


99 


well,  have  sufficient  appetite,  and  my  Stomach  performs  well  its  Func- 
tions. The  latter  is  very  material  to  the  preservation  of  Health.  I 
therefore  take  no  Drugs,  lest  I should  disorder  it.  You  may  judge  that 
my  Disease  is  not  very  grievous,  since  I am  more  afraid  of  the  Medicines 
than  of  the  Malady.  . . , 

How  delightfully  polite  and  non-committal  is  the  following  letter  to 
some  one  who  evidently  recommended  some  treatment  to  Franklin  for 
his  stone  and  gravel. 

Passy  ce  12  Septembre,  1784. 

To  an  unknown  correspondent. 

J’ai  regu  Monsieur,  la  Letter  que  vous  m’avez  fait  I’honneur  de 
m’ecrire  le  8 de  ce  Mois.  Je  suis  bien  sensible  a I’inffirest  que  vous 
voulez  bien  prendre  a ma  Sanffi,  et  Je  vous  suis  infiniment  obligd  ainsi 
qu’a  M.  Dubourg;  de  la  Communication  de  votre  Remede  contre  la 
Pierres  et  la  Gravelle.  Ma  Maladie  avant  etd  ( ) supportable 

j’usqu’a  ce  Jour,  Je  ne  suis  point  encore  determine  k faire  usage  d’aucun 
M^icament.  Si  le  Mai  augmentoit  par  la  suite  et  que  Je  me  visse 
oblige  d’avoir  recours  a votre  Recette,  Je  me  ferai  un  Devoir  de  vous 
faire  part  du  Succbs.  Agreez,  Je  vous  prie,  mes  sinceres  Remercimens 
et  les  Sentiment  d’estime  et  de  Reconnoissance  avec  les  quels  J’ai 
I’honneur  d’etre.  Monsieur, 

Votre  tres  humble  et  tres  obeissant  serviteur, 

B.  Franklin. 

On  April  15,  1785,  John  Jones  wrote  and  desired  Franklin’s  opinion 
of  the  Russian  vapor  baths  as  described  in  a paper  by  Dr.  Sanchez. 

Notwithstanding  the  statement  made  in  the  above  letter  Franklin  was 
probably  taking  medicine  for  the  stone. 

Passy,  April  21,  1785. 

To  Benjamin  Vaughan. 

Dear  Friend: 

I received  your  kind  letter  of  the  23d  past,  by  Mr.  Perry,  with  the 
other  bottle  of  Blackrie.  . . . 


1 


THE  IVIEDICAL  SIDE  OF  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 


By  William  Pepper,  M.D., 

Assistant  Professor  of  Clinical  Pathology,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

Another  account  of  Franklin’s  treating  nervous  diseases  by  electricity 
is  here  given. 

Passy,  April  29,  1785. 

To  Jan  Ingenhousz.^ 

. . . You  will  find  an  Acct.  of  the  first  great  Stroke  I received,  in 

pages  161,  162,  of  my  Book,  5th  Edition,  1774.  The  second  I will  now 
give  you.  I had  a Paralytick  Patient  in  my  Chamber  whose  Friends 
brought  him  to  receive  some  Electric  Shocks.  I made  them  join  Hands 
so  as  to  receive  the  Shock  at  the  same  time,  and  I charg’d  two  large  Jars 
to  give  it.  By  the  Number  of  those  People,  I was  oblig’d  to  quit  my 
usual  Standing,  and  plac’d  myself  inadvertently  under  an  Iron  Hook 
which  hung  from  the  Ceiling  down  to  within  two  Inches  of  my  Head,  and 
communicated  by  the  Wire  with  the  outside  of  the  Jars.  I attempted  to 
discharge  them,  and  in  fact  did  so,  but  I did  not  perceive  it,  tho’  the 
charge  went  thro’  me,  and  not  through  the  Persons  I intended  it  for.  I 
neither  saw  the  Flash,  heard  the  Report,  nor  felt  the  Stroke.  When  my 
Senses  returned,  I found  myself  on  the  Floor.  I got  up,  not  knowing- 
how  that  had  happened.  I then  again  attempted  to  discharge  the  Jars; 
but  one  of  the  Company  told  me  they  were  already  discharg’d,  which 
I could  not  at  first  believe,  but  on  Trial  found  it  true.  They  told  me  they 
had  not  felt  it,  but  they  saw  I was  knock’d  down  by  it,  which  had  greatly 
surprised  them.  On  recollecting  myself,  and  examining  my  Situation, 
I found  the  Case  clear.  A small  swelling  rose  on  the  Top  of  my  Head, 
which  continued  sore  for  some  Days,  but  I do  not  remember  any  other 
Effect  good  or  bad. 

' Jan  Ingenhousz,  1730-1799.  An  eminent  Dutch  physician  and  chemist.  About 
1767  visited  J^ondon  where  he  met  Sir  John  Pringle,  through  whom  he  became 
physician  to  the  Empress  Maria  Theresa  in  1772.  After  remaining  in  "Sdenna  a 
number  of  years  he  travelled  in  France,  Italy,  etc.,  pursuing  his  scientific  studies 
and  experiments,  and  at  last  settled  in  London.  Fellow  of  the  RoA^al  Society.  Dr. 
Ingenhousz  conveyed  to  Franklin  an  invitation  from  the  Emperor  to  visit  I'ienna. 


102  University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 

The  Stroke  you  received,  and  its  Consequences,  are  much  more 
curious.  I communicated  that  Part  of  your  Letter  to  an  Operator, 
encourag’d  by  Government  here  to  electrify  epileptic  and  other  poor 
Patients,  and  advis’d  his  trying  the  Practice  on  Mad  People  according 
to  your  Opinion.  I have  not  heard  whether  he  has  done  it.  . . 


Fig.  31. — Dr.  Jan  Ingenhousz.  From  a rare  engraving  made  at  Rome  in  1769  by 
Cunego,  from  a drawing  by  A.  L.  L.  from  life.  In  the  author’s  collection. 


In  this  same  letter  he  reverts  to  that  old  hobby  of  his,  infection  remain- 
ing in  dead  bodies. 


[The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


103 


. . . Your  ideas  of  the  long  Conservation  possible  of  the  Infection 

of  some  Diseases  appear  to  me  well-founded.  I heard  in  England  of 
one  Instance.  In  a Country  Village  where  the  Small  Pox  had  not  been  for 
30  Years,  a Grave  was  opened  for  the  Interment  of  a Person  dead  of 
some  common  Distemper,  whose  Funeral  was  accompanied  by  most  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Village.  The  Grave  digger,  had  in  his  Operation 
broke  the  Coffin  of  a neighboring  Corpse  which  had  dy’d  of  the  Small- 
Pox  thirty  years  before.  Those  who  attended  the  Ceremony  of  the 
Interment  were  sensible  of  a bad  Smell  issuing  from  the  Grave,  and  after 
some  Days  were  all  taken  down  with  that  Distemper.  You  may  yourself 
remember  a stronger  Instance.  It  happen’d  during  my  Absence  from 
England  between  August  1762  and  December  1764,  and  therefore  I may 
not  be  perfect  in  the  Circumstances.  A number  of  Physicians,  as  I heard, 
amus’d  themselves  with  the  Dissection  of  an  Egyptian  Mummy,  which 
must  have  been  more  than  Two  Thousand  Years  old,  and  several  of 
them  dyd  soon  after  of  putrid  Fevers,  suspected  to  be  caught  at  that 
Dissection.  ... 

And,  also  in  the  same  letter  he  speaks  of  Blackrie’s  Solvent,  previously 
mentioned. 


. . . I thank  you  much  for  the  Postscript  respecting  my  Disorder 

the  Stone.  I have  taken  heretofore,  and  am  now  again  taking  the  Remedy 
you  mention,  which  is  called  Blackrie’s  Solvent.  It  is  the  Soap  Lie,  with 
Lime  Water,  and  I believe  it  may  have  some  Effect  in  diminishing  the 
Symptoms,  and  preventing  the  Growth  of  the  Stone,  which  is  all  I 
expect  from  it.  It  does  not  hurt  my  Appetite;  I sleep  well,  and  enjoy 
my  Friends  in  chearful  Conversation  as  usual.  But,  as  I cannot  use 
much  Exercise,  I eat  more  sparingly  than  formerly,  and  I drink  no 
Wine.  . . . 

And  towards  the  end  of  this  same  very  long  letter  there  is  mention  of 
iNIesmer. 

. . . Mesmer  continues  here  and  has  still  some  Adherents  and 

some  Practice.  It  is  surprizing  how  much  Credulity  still  subsists  in  the 
World.  I suppose  all  the  Physicians  in  France  put  together  have  not 
made  as  much  Money  during  the  Time  he  has  been  here,  as  he  has  done. 


104 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


And  we  have  now  a fresh  Folly.  A Magnetiser  pretends  that  he  can  by 
establishing  what  is  called  a Rapport  between  any  Person  and  a Som- 
nambule,  put  it  in  the  Power  of  that  Person  to  direct  the  Actions  of 
the  Somnambule,  by  a simple  strong  Volition  only,  without  Speaking 
or  making  any  Signs;  and  many  People  daily  flock  to  see  this  strange 
Operation.  . . . 

The  following  extract  from  the  Preface  of  Volume  X of  Smyth’s 
edition  of  Franklin’s  Life  and  Writings  is  interesting  and  strange, 
possibly  some  future  medical  historian  will  solve  the  riddle.  It  seems 
very  unlikely  that  Franklin  could  have  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
authorship  of  this  manuscript,  some  reference  in  his  letters  would 
certainly  have  been  found. 

. . . “It  will  be  noticed  that  I have  adopted  throughout  these 

volumes  the  Austrian  way  of  spelling  the  name  of  Ingenhousz.  In  the 
published  works  of  that  distinguished  philosopher,  and  in  the  authorized 
translations  of  them,  the  name  is  spelled  Ingen  Housz.  He  signed 
himself  Ingen  Housz,  and  sometimes  in  familiar  letter  J.  Housz.  A 
descendant  of  this  illustrious  man.  Dr.  Oskar  Freiherr  von  Mitis,  an 
official  of  the  K.  and  K.  Haus-,  Hof-  und  Staatsarchiv,  with  great 
and  generous  kindness,  sent  me  a strange  manuscript  volume  entitled 
“Consultatio  Medica  super  proprium  morbum  autographa  Benjamin! 
Franklin  ad  joannem  Ingenhousz.”  The  volume  contains  two  manu- 
scripts, the  flrst  consisting  of  seventy-six  pages  and  containing  about 
seventeen  thousand  words.  The  second  is  an  amplification  and  extension 
of  the  first  and  written  in  an  almost  microscopic  hand,  its  seventy  pages 
containing  not  less  than  seventy-eight  thousand  words.  The  first  part 
Caput  1.  De  Nature  Morbi — is  in  the  hand  writing  of  the  elder  Jacquin, 
Nikolaus  Josef,  the  celebrated  botanist.  The  second  part,  beginning 
Pathologise,  Pars  prima,  is  believed  in  Germany  to  have  been  written 
either  by  Ingenhousz,  the  uncle  of  Jacquin,  or  by  Franklin.  Upon  the 
paper  cover  is  written  “Has  immortalis  viri  reliquias  sociis  et  amicis 
religiose  asservandas  tradit”  (signed)  Jacquin.  Freiherr  von  Mitis 
assures  me  that  this  is  unquestionably  in  the  handwriting  of  Jacquin, 
and  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  his  love  of  truth.  The  cover  is  slightly 
scorched,  for  the  manuscript  was  rescued  from  the  fire,  together  with  a 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  105 

few  other  papers,  in  1848  by  Karl  von  Schreiber,  son-in-law  of  Jacquin. 
Since  1852  this  mysterious  volume  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the 
family  of  Von  Mitis,  and  although  it  has  been  frequently  examined,  no 
information  has  been  obtained  concerning  its  origin.  It  corresponds 
with  no  known  writing  of  Igenhousz  or  Franklin.  It  is  identical  with 
no  other  manuscript.  And  yet  the  testimony  of  Jacquin  is  precise  and 
reverent,  and  the  document  has  never  departed  from  the  descendants 
of  Igenhousz.”  . . 

Other  references  to  Blackrie  are  as  follows : 

Passy,  May  19,  1785. 

To  Jonathan  Williams. 

My  Disorder  has  its  bad  and  good  Days.  At  present  I am  tolerably 
affected  by  it;  but  sometimes  the  Pain  is  hard  to  bear.  I wish  you  to 
buy  and  send  me  Blackrie’s  Disquisition  on  Medicines  that  dissolve  the 
Stone.  You  will  find  it  at  Wilkie’s  No.  71,  Paul’s  Churchyard.  I am 
ever,  your  Affectionate  Uncle  B.  Franklin. 

To  Caleb  WTiitefoord. 

Passy,  May  19,  1785. 

My  dear  old  Friend: 

I have  desired  my  Nephew  Mr.  Williams  to  buy  a Book  for  me, 
Blackrie’s  Disquisitions  upon  Medicines  for  dissolving  the  Stone.  It 
treats  I understand  of  the  Sope-Lye,  which  is  recommended  in  the 
Pamphlet  you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  me.  . . . 

In  a very  long  letter  Franklin  discusses  many  things,  some  humor- 
ously, others  seriously.  His  own  ailments  he  makes  fun  about. 

The  account  of  the  Foundling  Hospital  at  Paris  shows  us  that  he  was 
a strong  opponent  of  race  suicide.  He  favored  large  families  and  he 
urged  the  proper  care  of  children  after  they  were  born. 

Then  in  another  part  of  this  same  interesting  letter  there  is  the 
description  of  one  of  Franklin’s  inventions — bifocal  lenses — as  they 
are  now  called.  This  invention  entitles  him  to  a high  rank  among 
ophthalmologists. 

Passj",  May  23,  1785. 

To  George  Whatley. 

. . . I must  agree  with  you,  that  the  Gout  is  bad,  and  that  the 

Stone  is  worse.  I am  happy  in  not  having  them  both  together,  and  I 
join  in  your  Prayer,  that  you  may  live  till  you  die  without  either.  . . . 


106 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


. . . I like  better  the  concluding  Sentiment  in  the  old  Song 

call’d  The  Old  Man’s  Wish,  wherein,  after  wishing  for  a warm  House 
in  a country  Town,  an  easy  Horse,  some  good  old  authors,  ingenious 
and  cheerful  Companions,  a Pudding  on  Sundays,  Avith  stout  Ale,  and 
a bottle  of  Burgundy,  &c.,  &c.,  in  separate  Stanzas,  each  ending  Avith 
this  burthen: 

“May  I goA-ern  my  Passions  AA'ith  an  absolute  SAA^ay, 

GroAA'  AA'iser  and  better  as  my  Strength  AA'ears  away, 

Without  Gout  or  Stone,  by  a gentle  Decay”;  . . 

But  Avhat  signifies  our  Wishing?  Things  happen,  after  all,  as  they  Avill 
happen.  I have  sung  that  wishing  Song  a thousand  times;  AA’hen  I Avas 
young,  and  now  find,  at  Four-score,  that  the  three  Contraries  have 
befallen  me,  being  subject  to  the  Gout  and  the  Stone,  and  not  being  yet 
Master  of  all  my  Passions.  Like  the  Proud  Girl  in  my  Country,  aaTo 
Avished  and  resolv’d  not  to  marry  a Parson,  nor  a Presbyterian,  nor  an 
Irishman;  and  at  length  found  herself  married  to  an  Irish  Presbyterian 
Parson.  . . . 

. . . I return  your  Note  of  Children  receiv’d  in  the  Foundling 

Hospital  at  Paris,  from  1741  to  1755,  inclusiA-e;  and  I liaA’-e  added  the 
Years  preceding  as  far  back  as  1710,  together  with  the  general  Christ- 
nings  of  the  City,  and  the  Years  succeeding  doAvn  to  1770.  Those  since 
that  Period  I have  not  been  able  to  obtain.  I have  noted  in  the  Margin 
the  gradual  Increase,  viz.  from  every  tenth  Child  so  thrown  upon  the 
Public,  till  it  comes  to  every  third!  Fifteen  Years  haA^e  passed  since  the 
last  Account,  and  probably  it  may  noAV  amount  to  one-half.  Is  it  right 
to  encourage  this  monstrous  Deficiency  of  natural  Affection  ? A Surgeon 
I met  with  here  excused  the  Women  of  Paris,  by  saying,  seriously,  that 
they  could  not  give  suck;  “Car,”  dit  il,  “elles  n’ont  point  de  tetons.” 
He  assurr’d  me  it  was  a Fact,  and  bade  me  look  at  them,  and  observe 
how  flat  they  were  on  the  Breast;  “they  have  nothing  more  there,”  said 
he,  “than  I have  upon  the  Back  of  my  hand.”  I haA^e  since  thought 
that  there  might  be  some  Truth  in  his  Observation,  and  that,  possibly, 
Nature,  finding  they  made  no  use  of  Bubbies,  has  left  off  giving  them 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


107 


any.  Yet,  since  Rousseau,  with  admirable  Eloquence,  pleaded  for  the 
Rights  of  Children  to  their  Mother’s  milk,  the  Mode  has  changed  a little, 
and  some  Ladies  of  Quality  now  suckle  their  Infants  and  find  Milk 
enough.  May  the  Mode  descend  to  the  lower  Ranks,  till  it  becomes  no 
longer  the  Custom  to  pack  their  Infants  away,  as  soon  as  born,  to  the 
Enfans  Trouv&,  with  the  careless  Observation,  that  the  King  is  better 
able  to  maintain  them. 

I am  credibly  inform’d  that  nine-tenths  of  them  die  there  pretty  soon, 
which  is  said  to  be  a great  Relief  to  the  Institution,  whose  Funds  would 
not  otherwise  be  sufficient  to  bring  up  the  Remainder.  Except  the  few 
Persons  of  quality  above  mentioned,  and  the  Multitude  who  send  to 
the  Hospital,  the  Practice  is  to  hire  Nurses  in  the  Country  to  carry  out 
the  Children,  and  take  care  of  them  there.  There  is  an  Office  for 
examining  the  Health  of  Nurses,  and  giving  them  Licenses.  They 
come  to  Town  on  certain  Days  of  the  week  in  Companies  to  receive  the 
Children,  and  we  often  meet  Trains  of  them  on  the  Road  returning  to  the 
neighboring  Villages,  with  each  a Child  in  her  Arms.  But  those,  who 
are  good  enough  to  try  this  way  of  raising  their  Children,  are  often  not 
able  to  pay  the  Expense,  so  that  the  Prisons  of  Paris  are  crowded  with 
wretched  Fathers  and  Mothers  confined  pour  Mois  de  Nourrice,  tho’  it 
is  laudably  a favorite  Charity  to  pay  for  them,  and  set  such  Prisoners  at 
Liberty.  I wish  Success  to  the  new  Project  of  assisting  the  poor  to  keep 
their  Children  at  home,  because  I think  there  is  no  Nurse  like  a Mother 
(or  not  many),  and  that,  if  Parents  did  not  immediately  send  their 
Infants  out  of  their  Sight,  they  would  in  a few  days  begin  to  love  them, 
and  thence  be  spurr’d  to  greater  Industry  for  their  Maintenance. 

. . . By  Mr.  Dollond’s^  Saying,  that  my  double  Spectacles  can 

only  serve  particular  Eyes,  I doubt  he  has  not  been  rightly  informed  of 
their  Construction.  I imagine  it  will  be  found  pretty  generally  true, 
that  the  same  Convexity  of  Glass  through  Avhich  a Man  sees  clearest 
and  best  at  the  Distance  proper  for  Reading,  is  not  the  best  for  greater 
Distances.  I therefore  had  formerly  twm  Pair  of  Spectacles,  which  I 
shifted  occasionally,  as  in  travelling  I sometimes  read,  and  often  wanted 
to  regard  the  Prospects.  Finding  this  Change  troublesome,  and  not 

^ Peter  Dollond,  1730-1820.  A son  and  successor  of  John  Dollond,  the  eminent 
English  optician.  Improved  Hadley’s  quadrant  and  wrote  a treatise  on  telescopes. 


lOS 


U niversity  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidletin 


always  sufficiently  ready,  I had  the  Glasses  cut,  and  half  of  each  kind 
associated  in  the  same  Circle,  thus 


By  this  means,  as  I wear  my  Spectacles  constantly,  I have  only  to  move 
my  Eyes  up  or  down,  as  I want  to  see  distinctly  far  or  near,  the  proper 
Glasses  being  always  ready.  This  I find  more  particularly  convenient 
since  my  being  in  France,  the  Glasses  that  serve  me  best  at  Table  to 
see  what  I eat,  not  being  the  best  to  see  the  Faces  of  those  on  the  other 
Side  of  the  Table  who  speak  to  me;  and  when  one’s  Ears  are  not  well 
accustomed  to  the  Sounds  of  a Language,  a Sight  of  the  Movements  in 
the  Features  of  him  that  speaks  helps  to  explain,  so  that  I understand 
French  better  by  the  help  of  my  Spectacles.  . . . 

A number  of  engravings  show  Franklin  wearing  glasses  shaped  like 
the  drawing  above  and  I believe  I have  seen  one  representing  the  divided 
lenses. 

The  following  letter  tells  how  closely  in  touch  Franklin  kept  with  the 
leading  physicians  of  London. 


Southampton,  July  26,  1785. 

To  J.  Coakley  Lettsom.^ 

Dear  Sir:  I received  your  kind  letter,  and  the  valuable  present  of  Dr. 
Fothergill’s  Works,  for  which  please  to  accept  my  grateful  acknowledge- 
ments. I purpose,  on  my  voyage,  to  write  the  remaining  notes  of  my 
life,  which  you  desire,  and  to  send  them  to  you  on  my  arrival.  You 

*J.  Coakley  Lettsom,  1744-1815.  “The  busiest,  most  philanthropic  and  most 
successful  physician  of  his  day,  as  well  as  a ready  writer.”  It  is  said  that  his  prac- 
tice sometimes  brought  him  in  ;^12,000  a year. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Beniamin  Franklin 


109 


have  done  a good  deed  in  contributing  to  promote  science  among  us,  by 
your  liberal  donation  of  books  to  Carlisle'  College.  Thanks  for  your  good 
wishes  in  favour  of  our  country,  and  of  your  friend  and  servant. 

B.  Franklin. 


Fig.  32. — Dr.  John  Coakley  Lettsom. 

In  1801  the  Managers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  wishing  to  have 
an  engraving  of  the  Hospital  for  use  on  the  certificates  given  the  students, 
who  had  attended  the  practice  of  the  house,  sent  a drawing  to  Dr. 
Lettsom  with  the  request  that  he  have  a plate  engraved.  This  Lettsom 
did,  employing  an  artist  named  Cooke,  after  consultation  with  Benjamin 
West.  An  older  engraving  on  a similar  certificate  is  shown  on  page  10 
Franklin’s  celebrated  letter  on  the  Causes  and  Cure  of  Smoky  Chim- 
neys which  was  published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Philo- 
sophical Society  was  addressed  to  a great  friend  of  his,  a celebrated 
physician  of  Vienna.  A small  portion  of  this  letter  refers  to  Franklin’s 
hobby — fresh  air. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


At  Sea,  August  28,  1785, 

To  Jan  Ingenhoiisz. 

. . . For  many  Years  past,  I have  rarely  met  with  a Case  of  a 

Smoky  Chimney,  which  has  not  been  solvable  on  these  Principles,  and 
cur’d  by  these  Remedies,  where  People  have  been  willing  to  apply  them; 
which  is  indeed  not  always  the  Case;  for  many  have  Prejudices  in  favour 
of  the  Nostrums  of  pretending  Chimney  Doctors  and  Fumists,  and  some 
have  Conceits  and  Fancies  of  their  own,  which  they  rather  chuse  to 
try,  than  to  lengthen  a Funnel,  alter  the  Size  of  an  Opening,  or  admit 
Air  into  a Room,  however  necessary;  for  some  are  as  much  afraid  of 
fresh  Air  as  persons  in  the  Hydrophobia  are  of  fresh  Water.  I myself 
had  formerly  this  Prejudice,  this  Aerophobia,  as  I now  account  it;  and, 
dreading  the  suppos’d  dangerous  Effects  of  cool  Air,  I consider’d  it  as 
an  Enemy,  and  clos’d  with  extreme  care  every  crevice  in  the  Rooms 
I inhabited. 

Experience  has  convinced  me  of  my  Error.  I now  look  upon  fresh  Air 
as  a Friend;  I even  sleep  with  an  open  Window.  I am  persuaded,  that 
no  common  Air  from  without  is  so  unwholesome,  as  the  Air  within  a 
close  Room,  that  has  been  often  breath’d  and  not  changed.  Moist  Air, 
too,  which  formerly  I though  pernicious,  gives  me  now  no  apprehensions; 
for,  considering  that  no  Dampness  of  Air  apply’d  to  the  Outside  of 
my  Skin  can  be  equal  to  what  is  apply’d  to  and  touches  it  within,  my 
whole  Body  being  full  of  Moisture  and  finding  that  I can  lie  two  hours 
in  a Bath  twice  a Week  cover’d  with  Water,  which  certainly  is  much 
damper  than  any  Air  can  be,  and  this  for  Years  together,  without  catching 
Cold,  or  being  in  any  other  manner  disorder’d  by  it,  I no  longer  dread 
mere  Moisture,  either  in  Air  or  in  Sheets  or  Shirts;  And  I find  it  of 
Importance  to  the  Happiness  of  Life,  the  being  freed  from  vain  Terrors, 
especially  of  objects  that  we  are  every  day  expos’d  inevitably  to  meet 
with.  You  Physicians  have  of  late  happily  discover’d,  after  a contrary 
Opinion  had  prevail’d  some  Ages,  that  fresh  and  Cool  Air  does  good  to 
Persons  in  the  Small  Pox  and  other  Fevers.  It  is  to  be  hop’d  that  in 
another  Century  or  two  we  may  all  find  out,  that  it  is  not  bad  even  for 
People  in  Health.  And  as  to  moist  Air,  here  I am  at  this  present  Writing 
in  a Ship  with  above  40  Persons,  who  have  had  no  other  but  moist  Air  to 
breathe  for  6 Weeks  past;  everything  we  touch  is  damp,  and  nothing 
dries,  yet  we  are  all  as  healthy  as  we  should  be  on  the  Mountains  of 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


111 


Switzerland,  whose  Inhabitants  are  not  more  so  than  those  of  Bermuda 
or  St.  Helena,  Islands  on  whose  Rocks  the  Waves  are  dash’d  into  Millions 
of  Particles,  which  fill  the  Air  with  Damp,  but  produce  no  Diseases,  the 
^loisture  being  pure,  unmix’d  with  the  poisonous  Vapours  arising  from 
the  putrid  Marshes  and  stagnant  Pools  in  which  many  Insects  die 
and  corrupt  the  Water.  These  Places  only,  in  my  Opinion  (which  how- 
ever I submit  to  yours,)  afford  unwholesome  Air;  and  that  it  is  not  the 
mere  Water  contain’d  in  damp  Air,  but  the  volatile  Particles  of  corrupted 
animal  Matter  mix’d  with  that  Water,  which  renders  such  Air  pernicious 
to  those  who  breathe  it.  And  I imagine  it  a Cause  of  the  same  kind 
that  renders  the  Air  in  close  Rooms,  where  the  perspirable  Matter  is 
breath’d  over  and  over  again  by  a number  of  assembled  People,  so 
hurtful  to  Health.  After  being  in  such  a Situation,  many  find  themselves 
affected  by  that  Febricula,  which  the  English  alone  call  a Cold,  and, 
perhaps  from  the  Name,  imagine  that  they  caught  the  malady  by  going 
out  of  the  Room,  when  it  was  in  fact  by  being  in  it. 

You  begin  to  think,  that  I wander  from  my  Subject,  and  go  out  of 
my  Depth.  So  I return  again  to  my  Chimneys.  . . . 

An  interesting  letter  is  here  printed  together  with  the  reply. 

Philadelphia,  March,  1786. 

To  Benjamin  Rush. 

IMy  Dear  Friend: 

During  our  long  acquaintance,  you  have  shown  many  instances  of 
your  regard  for  me;  yet  I must  now  desire  you  to  add  one  more  to  the 
number,  wdiich  is,  that,  if  you  publish  your  ingenious  discourse^  on  the 
Moral  Sense,  you  will  totally  omit  and  suppress  that  most  extravagant 
encomium  on  your  friend  Franklin,  which  hurt  me  exceedingly  in  the 
unexpected  hearing,  and  will  mortify  me  beyond  conception,  if  it  should 
appear  from  the  press.  Confiding  in  your  compliance  with  this  earnest 
request,  I am  ever,  my  dear  friend,  yours  most  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 

^ The  discourse  here  alluded  to.  On  the  Influence  of  Physical  Causes  on  the  Moral 
Faculty,  was  delivered  before  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  February  27th, 
1786. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


Dr.  Rush  replied  to  this  letter  as  follows:  “Agreeably  to  your  request 
I have  suppressed  the  conclusion  of  my  oration,  but  I cannot  bear  to 


Fig.  33. — Dedication  from  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush’s  Oration  on  the  Influence  of  Physical 
Causes  on  the  Moral  Faculty.  From  a copy  in  the  author’s  hbrary. 

think  of  sending  it  out  of  our  State  or  to  Europe  without  connecting 
it  Avith  your  name,  I have  therefore  taken  the  liberty  of  inscribing  it 
to  you  by  a simple  dedication,  of  which  the  enclosed  is  a copy.  And, 


TJxe  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


113 


as  you  have  never  in  the  course  of  our  long  acquaintance  refused  me  a 
single  favour,  I must  earnestly  insist  upon  your  adding  to  my  great  and 
numerous  obligations  to  you  the  permission  which  I now  solicit,  to  send 
my  last  as  I did  my  first  publication  into  the  Avorld  under  the  patronage 
of  your  name.”  March  11,  1786. 

The  following  extracts  from  Benjamin  Rush’s  writings  referring  to 
Franklin  are  of  interest  in  this  connection,  by  giving  us  the  opinion 
which  he,  one  of  the  greatest  American  physicians,  held  of  Franklin. 

. . . Sir  John  Pringle  was  between  sixty  and  seventy  years  of  age. 

He  was  then  the  Favorite  physician  of  the  Queen  and  Royal  family. 
No  relaxation  appeared.  Dr.  Franklin  (who  was  his  intimate  friend) 
informed  me,  in  his  exertions  to  obtain  knowledge.  . . . 

I 

. . . Dr.  Franklin  acted,  while  I was  in  London,  as  agent  to 

several  of  the  then  American  Colonies.  It  was  my  peculiar  happiness 
to  be  domesticated  in  his  family.  He  introduced  me  to  a number  of  his 
literary  friends.  He  once  took  me  to  Court  with  him,  and  pointed  out 
to  me  many  of  the  most  distinguished  public  characters  of  the  nation. 
I never  visited  him  without  learning  something.  I shall  mention  a proof 
of  his  kindness  to  me  in  another  place.  . . . 

. . . In  February  I set  out  for  Paris  with  letters  of  introduction 

from  Dr.  Franklin,  to  several  of  his  philosophical  friends,  ^^dlen  I 
parted  \\dth  the  Doctor  he  asked  me,  “how  I was  provided  with  money 
for  my  jaunt.”  I told  him  I believed  I had  enough.  “Perhaps  not,  you 
may  be  exposed  to  unexpected  expenses;  here,”  said  he,  “is  a credit 
upon  a banker  in  Paris  for  two  or  three  hundred  guineas.”  I thankfully 
accepted  his  kind  and  generous  offer.  The  issue  of  it  will  be  mentioned 
hereafter.  Nothing  worth  relating  occurred  in  my  journey  to  Paris. 
I arrived  there  in  a few  days  after  I left  London,  and  was  introduced  by 
means  of  my  letters  to  the  following  persons,  Messrs.  Dubourg,  a phys- 
ician, Le  Roy,  an  Academician,  Roux,  Raume,  Macqiiair,  Chemists, 
Sue,  the  Anatomist,  Nollet,  lecturer  upon  natural  philosophy,  Jessieu, 
botanist  to  the  king,  Diderot,  the  philosopher  and  friend  to  Voltaire, 
and  some  others  of  less  note.  By  means  of  Dr.  Dubourg  I was  intro- 
duced to  the  Marquis  of  Mirabeau,  who  kept  a coterie  once  a week  at 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


his  house,  to  Avhich  I was  invited.  Upon  my  entering  his  room  which 
was  large  and  filled  with  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  first  literary  char- 
acters in  Paris,  Dr.  Dubourg  announced  me  in  the  following  words, 
“ Voila,  un  ami  de  Mons.  Franklin.”  The  Marquis  ran  towards  the  door 
and  took  me  by  the  hand,  saying  at  the  same  time,  “ C’est  assez.”  . . . 

. . . X day  or  two  after  I arrived  in  London  I called  upon  Dr. 

Franklin,  and  informed  him  that  my  expenses  in  Paris  had  so  far  exceeded 
my  expectations  that  I had  been  obliged  to  avail  myself  of  his  kind  offer, 
by  drawing  upon  his  banker  for  thirty  guineas.  He  seemed  pleased,  and 
requested  that  I would  pay  them,  when  convenient,  to  his  wife  in  Phila- 
delphia. This  I did,  out  of  the  first  money  I earned  after  my  arrival. 
Mrs.  Franklin  for  a long  time  refused  to  receive  it,  for  the  Doctor  had 
not  mentioned  the  debt  to  her  in  any  of  his  letters.  I take  great  pleasure 
in  recording  this  delicate  act  of  paternal  friendship  in  Dr.  Franklin. 
It  attached  me  to  him  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  and  combined 
with  his  character  it  has  since  his  death,  disposed  me  to  respect  and  love 
all  the  branches  of  the  family.  . . . 

. . . Dr.  Priestly  dined  with  me.  His  conversation  was  highly 

instructive.  He  said  that  he  had  been  very  intimate  with  Dr.  Franklin 
and  that  from  his  often  saying  he  should  like  to  peep  out  of  his  grave 
a hundred  years  hence  he  concluded  that  he  did  not  believe  in  a future 
state.  . . . 

In  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography  for  January, 
1905,  will  be  found  other  references  to  Franklin  in  Dr.  Rush’s  Diary. 

' One  letter  has  been  quoted  about  lead  poisoning  and  another  as 
I important  is  here  given  in  full,  a letter  that  could  aptly  find  a place  in 
any  modern  textbook  on  the  subject. 

Philadelphia,  July  31,  1786. 

To  Benjamin  Vaughan. 

Dear  Friend: 

I recollect  that,  when  I had  the  great  Pleasure  of  seeing  you  at  South- 
ampton, now  a 12  month  since,  we  had  some  Conversation  on  the  bad 
Effects  of  Lead  taken  inwardly;  and  that  at  your  Request  I promis’d  to 


The  Medical  Side  of  Beniamin  Franklin 


115 


send  you  in  writing  a particular  Account  of  several  Facts  I then  men- 
tion’d to  you,  of  which  you  thought  some  good  use  might  be  made.  I 
now  sit  down  to  fulfil  that  Promise. 

The  first  Thing  I remember  of  this  kind  was  a general  Discourse 
in  Boston,  when  I was  a Boy,  of  a Complaint  from  North  Carolina 
against  New  England  Rum,  that  it  poison’d  their  People,  giving  them 
the  Dry  Bellyach,  with  Loss  of  the  Use  of  their  Limbs.  The  Distilleries 
being  examin’d  on  the  Occasion,  it  was  found  that  several  of  them  used 
leaden  Still-heads  and  Worms,  and  the  Physicians  were  of  Opinion,  that 
the  iNIischief  was  occasioned  by  the  Use  of  Lead.  The  Legislature  of 
the  Massachusetts  thereupon  pass’d  an  Act,  prohibiting  under  severe 
Penalties  the  Use  of  such  Still-heads  and  AYorms  thereafter.  Inclos’d 
I send  you  a Copy  of  the  Acct.  taken  from  my  printed  Law-book. 

In  1724,  being  in  London,  I went  to  work  in  the  Printing-House  of  Mr. 
Palmer,  Bartholomew  Close,  as  a Compositor.  I there  found  a Practice, 
I had  never  seen  before,  of  drying  a Case  of  Types  (which  are  wet  in 
Distribution)  by  placing  it  sloping  before  the  Fire.  I found  this  had 
the  additional  Advantage,  when  the  Types  were  not  only  dry’d  but 
heated,  of  being  comfortable  to  the  Hands  working  over  them  in  cold 
weather.  I therefore  sometimes  heated  my  case  when  the  Types  did 
not  want  drying.  But  an  old  Workman,  observing  it,  advis’d  me  not  to 
do  so,  telling  me  I might  lose  the  use  of  my  Hands  by  it,  as  two  of  our 
Companions  had  nearly  done,  one  of  whom  that  us’d  to  earn  his  Guinea 
a Week,  could  not  then  make  more  than  ten  Shillings,  and  the  other, 
who  had  the  Dangles,  but  seven  and  sixpence.  This,  with  a kind  of 
obscure  Pain,  that  I had  sometimes  felt,  as  it  were  in  the  Bones  of  my 
Hand  when  working  over  the  Types  made  very  hot,  induced  me  to  omit 
the  Practice.  But  talking  afterwards  with  Mr.  James,  a Letter-founder 
in  the  same  Close,  and  asking  him  if  his  People,  who  work’d  over  the 
little  Furnaces  of  melted  Metal,  were  not  subject  to  that  Disorder;  he 
made  light  of  any  danger  from  the  effluvia,  but  ascribed  it  to  the  Particles 
of  the  jMetal  swallow’d  with  their  Food  by  slovenly  Workmen,  who 
went  to  their  Meals  after  handling  the  IMetal,  without  well  washing 
their  Fingers,  so  that  some  of  the  metalline  Particles  were  taken  off  by 
their  Bread  and  eaten  with  it.  This  appeared  to  have  some  Reason  in 
it.  But  the  Pain  I had  experienc’d  made  me  still  afraid  of  those  Effluvia. 

Being  in  Derbishire  at  some  of  the  Furnaces  for  Smelting  of  Lead 


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Ore,  I was  told,  that  the  Smoke  of  those  Furnaces  was  pernicious  to  the 
neighboring  Grass  and  other  Vegetables;  but  I do  not  recollect  to  have 
heard  anything  of  the  Effect  of  such  Vegetables  eaten  by  Animals.  It 
may  be  well  to  make  the  Enquiry. 

In  America  I have  often  observ’d  that  on  the  Roofs  of  our  shingled 
Houses,  where  Moss  is  apt  to  grow  in  northen  Exposures,  if  there  be  any 
thing  on  the  Roof  painted  with  white  Lead,  such  as  Balusters,  or  Erames 
of  dormant  Windows,  &c,  there  is  constantly  a Streak  on  the  Shingles 
from  such  Paint  down  to  the  Eaves,  on  which  no  Moss  will  grow,  but  the 
wood  remains,  constantly  clean  and  free  from  it.  We  seldom  drink 
RainWater  that  falls  on  our  Houses;  and  if  we  did,  perhaps  the  small 
quantity  of  Lead  descending  from  such  Paint  might,  not  be  sufficient  to 
produce  any  sensible  ill  Effect  on  our  Bodies.  But  I have  been  told  of  a 
Case  in  Europe,  I forgot  the  Place,  wRere  a whole  Family  was  afflicted 
with  what  we  call  the  Dry  Bellyach,  or  Colica  Pictonum,  by  drinking 
RainWater.  It  was  at  a Country-Seat,  which,  being  situated  too  high  to 
have  the  Advantage  of  a Well,  was  supply’d  with  Water  from  a Tank, 
which  received  the  Water  from  the  leaded  Roofs.  This  had  been  drunk 
several  Years  without  Mischief;  but  some  young  Trees  planted  near  the 
House  growing  up  above  the  Roof,  and  shedding  their  Leaves  upon  it, 
it  was  suppos’d  that  an  Acid  in  those  Leaves  had  corroded  the  Lead 
they  cover’d  and  furnish’d  the  Water  of  that  with  its  baneful  Particles 
and  Qualities. 

Vffien  I was  in  Paris  with  Sir  John  Pringle  in  1767,  he  visited  La 
Charite,  a Hospital  particularly  famous  for  the  Cure  of  that  Malady, 
and  brought  from  thence  a Pamphlet  containing  a List  of  the  Names 
of  Persons,  specifying  their  Professions  or  Trades,  who  had  been  cured 
there.  I had  the  Curiosity  to  examine  that  List,  and  found  that  all  the 
Patients  were  of  Trades,  that,  some  way  or  other,  use  or  work  in  Lead, 
such  as  Plumbers,  Glaziers,  Painters,  &c.,  excepting  only  two  kinds. 
Stonecutters  and  Soldiers.  These  I could  not  reconcile  to  my  Notion, 
that  Lead  was  the  cause  of  that  Disorder.  But  on  my  mentioning  this 
Difficulity  to  a Physician  of  that  Hospital,  he  inform’d  me  that  the 
Stonecutters  are  continually  using  melted  Lead  to  fix  the  Ends  of  Iron 
Balustrades  in  Stone;  and  that  the  Soldiers  had  been  employ’d  by 
Painters,  as  Labourers,  in  Grinding  of  Colours. 

This,  my  dear  Friend,  is  all  I can  at  present  recollect  on  the  Subject. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


117 


You  will  see  by  it,  that  the  Opinion  of  this  mischievous  Effect  from 
Lead  is  at  least  above  Sixty  Years  old;  and  you  will  observe  with  Concern 
how  long  a useful  Truth  may  be  known  and  exist,  before  it  is  generally 
receiv’d  and  practis’d  on. 

I am,  ever,  yours  most  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 


Fig.  34. — Dr.  Erasmus  Darwin.’ 

How  amused  Franklin  must  have  been  Avhen  told  the  following  story 
about  his  friend  Dr.  Erasmus  Darwin.  The  anecdote  can  be  found  in 
Physic  and  Physicians:  A Medical  Sketch  Book.  London.  1839. 

' Erasmus  Darwin,  1731-1802.  An  English  physician,  physiologist,  and  poet. 
Founder  of  a system  of  Medicine.  In  1788  he  made  the  following  prophesy,  “ Soon 
will  the  power  of  steam  bear  the  fleet  carriage  along  the  road,  soon  will  it  bear  the 
bark  with  certain  course  through  the  billows.  Probably  too  it  will,  like  the  eagle, 
bear  a new  car  through  the  kingdom  of  air  on  the  nimble  pinions  of  the  ■ndnd  to  remote 
bounds.’’  In  1771  Franklin  wsited  Dr.  Darwin  at  Litchfield. 


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“An  instance  of  Darwin’s  eccentricity  is  thus  related.  During  his 
early  residence  at  Litchfield,  Mr.  Sneyd,  then  of  Bishton,  and  a few 
more  gentlemen  of  Staffordshire,  prevailed  upon  the  poet  to  join  them  in 
an  excursion  by  water,  from  Bishton  to  Nottingham,  and  on  to  Newark. 
They  had  provided  themselves  with  a good  supply  of  cold  provisions 
and  wine.  It  was  midsummer,  the  day  ardent  and  sultry.  The  noon- 
tide meal  had  been  made,  and  the  glass  gone  duly  round.  It  was  one 
of  those  few'  instances,  in  wTich  the  medical  votary  of  the  Naiads  trans- 
gressed his  general  and  strict  sobriety.  If  not  absolutely  intoxicated, 
his  spirits  were  in  a high  degree  of  vinous  exhiliration.  On  the  boat 
approaching  Nottingham,  Avithin  the  distance  of  a feAV  fields,  he  sur- 
prised his  companions  by  slipping,  without  any  previous  notice,  from 
the  boat  into  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  swimming  to  the  shore.  They 
saw'  him  get  upon  the  bank,  and  w'alk  over  the  meadow's  tow'ards  the 
town.  They  called  to  him  in  vain;  he  did  not  once  turn  his  head. 
Anxious  lest  he  should  take  a dangerous  cold  by  remaining  in  his  w'et 
clothes,  and  uncertain  whether  or  not  he  intended  to  desert  his  party, 
they  row'ed  instantly  to  the  town,  and  went  in  search  of  the  river  god. 
In  passing  through  the  market-place,  they  saw^  him  standing  upon  a tub, 
encircled  by  a crowed  of  people,  and  resisting  the  entreaties  of  an  apoth- 
ecary of  the  place,  one  of  his  old  companions,  who  w^as  importuning  him 
to  go  to  his  house-,  and  accept  of  other  vestments,  until  his  own  could  be 
dried.  The  party,  on  passing  through  the  crowd,  were  surprised  to  hear 
him  speaking  w'ithout  any  degree  of  his  usual  stammering.  . . . 

“‘Have  I not  told  you,’  said  the  Dr.,  ‘that  I had  drunk  a considerable 
quantity  of  wane  before  I committed  myself  to  the  river.  You  know 
my  general  sobriety,  and,  as  a professional  man,  you  ought  to  know 
that  the  unusual  existence  of  internal  stimulus  would,  in  its  effects  on 
the  system,  counteract  the  external  cold  and  moisture.’  Then  perceiving 
his  companions  near  him,  he  nodded,  smiled,  waved  his  hand,  and 
thus,  Avithout  hesitation,  addressed  the  populace: 

“‘Ye  men  of  Nottingham,  listen  to  me.  You  are  ingenious  and  indus- 
trious mechanics.  By  your  industry,  life’s  comforts  are  procured  for 
yourselves  and  families.  If  you  lose  your  health,  the  power  of  being 
industrious  Avill  forsake  you.  That  you  know;  but  you  may  not  know 
that  to  breathe  fresh  air  constantly,  is  not  less  necessary  to  presexwe 
health  than  sobriety  itself.  Air  becomes  unwholesome  in  a feAV  hours. 


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119 


if  the  windows  be  shut.  Open  those  of  your  sleeping-rooms  whenever 
you  quit  them  to  go  to  your  work-shops.  Keep  the  windows  of  your 
work-shops  open  whenever  the  weather  is  not  insupportably  cold.  I have 
no  interest  in  giving  you  this  advice.  Remember  what  I,  your  country- 
man and  physician,  tell  you.  If  you  would  not  bring  infection  and 
disease  upon  yourselves,  and  to  your  wives  and  children,  change  the  air 
you  breathe;  change  it  many  times  a day,  by  opening  your  windows.’ 
So  saying,  Dr.  Darwin  stepped  from  the  tub,  and  returning  with  his 
party  to  the  boat,  they  pursued  their  voyage.” 

Possibly  Franklin  was  one  of  this  party.  I wish  I could  prove  this 
were  true.  Darwin’s  views  on  fresh  air  sound  very  much  like  those  so 
frequently  advocated  by  Franklin.  We  do  know  that  Franklin  visited 
Dr.  Darn'in  at  Litchfield  in  1 771 


Other  references  to  his  own  physical  ailments. 


Philadelphia,  April  15,  1787. 


To  M.  Le  Veillard. 

. . . As  to  my  malady,  concerning  which  you  so  kindly  inquire, 

I have  never  had  the  least  doubt  of  its  being  the  stone.  I am  sensible 
that  it  is  grown  heavier,  but  on  the  whole  it  does  not  give  me  more  pain 
than  when  at  Passy,  and  except  in  standing,  walking,  or  making  water, 
I am  very  little  incommoded  by  it.  Sitting  or  lying  in  bed  I am  generally 
quite  easy,  God  be  thanked;  and  as  I live  temperately,  drink  no  wine, 
and  use  daily  the  exercise  of  the  dumb-bell,  I flatter  myself  that  the 
stone  is  kept  from  augmenting  so  much  as  it  might  otherwise  do,  and 
that  I may  still  continue  to  find  it  tolerable.  People  who  live  long,  who 
will  drink  of  the  cup  of  life  to  the  very  bottom,  must  expect  to  meet 
with  Some  of  the  usual  dregs,  and  when  I reflect  on  the  number  of 
terrible  maladies  human  nature  is  subject  to,  I think  myself  favoured  in 
having  to  my  share  only  the  stone  and  the  gout.  . . . 


Philadelphia,  April  18,  1787. 


To  Jean-Baptiste  Le  Roy. 

. . . I had  sometimes  wished  I had  brought  with  me  from  France 

a balloon  sufficiently  large  to  raise  me  from  the  ground.  In  my  malady 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bidletin 


it  would  have  been  the  most  easy  carriage  for  me,  being  led  by  a string 
held  by  a man  walking  on  the  ground.  . . . 


Philadelphia,  Nov.  19,  1787. 

To  Comte  De  Buffon. 

Dear  Sir: 

I am  honour’d  by  your  Letter,  desiring  to  know  by  Avhat  Means  I 
am  reliev’d  in  a Disorder,  with  which  you  are  also  unfortunately  afflicted 
as  well  as  myself.  I have  try’d  all  the  noted  Prescriptions  for  diminishing 
the  Stone  without  perceiving  any  good  Effect.  But  observing  Temper- 
ance in  Eating,  avoiding  Wine  and  cyder,  and  using  daily  the  Dumb 
Bell,  which  exercises  the  upper  Part  of  the  Body  without  much  moving 
the  Parts  in  contact  Avith  the  Stone,  I think  I have  prevented  its  Increase, 

As  the  Roughness  of  the  Stone  lacerates  a little  the  Neck  of  the  Bladder, 
I find,  that  when  the  Urine  happens  to  be  sharp,  I have  much  Pain  in 
making  Water  and  frequent  Urgencies.  For  Relief  under  the  Circum- 
stances, I take,  going  to  Bed,  the  Bigness  of  a Pigeon’s  Egg  of  Jelly  of 
Blackberries.  The  Receipt  for  making  it  is  enclos’d.  While  I continue 
to  do  this  every  Night,  I am  generally  easy  the  day  following,  making 
Water  pretty  freely,  and  with  long  intervals.  I Avish  most  sincerely 
that  this  simple  Remedy  may  have  the  same  happy  Effect  with  you. 
Perhaps  Current  Jelly,  or  the  Jelly  of  Apples  or  Raspberries,  may  be 
equally  serviceable;  for  I suspect  the  Virtue  of  this  Jelly  may  lie  Prin- 
cipally in  the  boiled  Sugar,  which  is  in  some  degree  candied  by  the 
Boiling  of  the  Jelly.  Wishing  you  for  your  oAvn  Sake  much  more  Ease, 
and  for  the  Sake  of  Mankind  many  more  years,  I remain  with  the  greatest 
Esteem  and  Respect,  dear  Sir,  your  affectionate  and  most  obedient 
Servant. 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  11,  1788. 

To  Jan  Ingenhousz. 

My  Dear  Old  Friend: 

Your  Letter  of  Sept.  28,  1787,  came  to  my  hands  but  about  tAVo  Weeks 
since.  It  found  me  very  ill  with  a severe  Fit  of  the  Stone,  which  folloAv’d 
a fall  I had  on  the  Stone  Steps  that  lead  into  my  Garden,  whereby  I 
was  much  bruised,  and  my  Wrist  sprained,  so  as  not  to  be  capable  of 
Writing  for  several  Weeks.  . . . 

Again  Franklin  discusses  Ophthalmol ogical  subjects. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


121 


Philadelphia  (Oct.  22,  1788). 

To  the  Due  De  La  Rochefoucauld. 

. . . I thank  you  much  for  the  Dissertation  sur  la  Nyctalopie.  It 

was  quite  a Novelty  to  me,  having  never  before  heard  of  such  a Malady. 
One  of  our  most  ancient  Physicians  assures  me,  that  tho’  he  had  some 
knowledge  of  the  Distemper  from  his  Reading,  he  never  knew  of  it  in  any 
Part  of  North  America.  Indeed  we  have  no  Chalk  in  this  Country,  nor 
any  Soil  so  white  as  to  dazzle  the  Eyes  when  the  Sun’s  Light  is  reflected 
from  it.  The  Dissertation  mentions  that  there  are  terres  cretacees,  &c. 
Are  those  terres  white?  . . . 

The  Duke  had  sent  Franklin  the  dissertation  in  July,  1788,  together 
with  a letter  stating  that  nyctalopia  was  a disease  endemic  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  La  Rocheguyon. 

A letter  showing  how  closely  Franklin  watched  his  own  symptoms 
and  what  a keen  observer  he  was  of  any  changes.  He  here  makes  an 
important  medical  observation. 

Philadelphia,  Oct.  24,  1788. 

To  Jan  Ingenhousz. 

. •.  . You  have  always  been  kind  enough  to  interest  yourself  in 

what  relates  to  my  health.  I ought  therefore  to  acquaint  you  •with  what 
appears  to  me  something  curious  respecting  it.  You  may  remember 
the  cutaneous  malady  I formerly  complained  of,  and  for  which  you  and 
Dr.  Pringle  favoured  me  with  prescriptions  and  advice.  It  vexed  me 
near  fourteen  years,  and  was,  the  beginning  of  this  year,  as  bad  as  ever, 
covering  almost  my  whole  body,  except  my  face  and  hands;  when  a fit 
of  the  gout  came  on,  without  very  much  pain,  but  a swelling  in  both  feet, 
which  at  last  appeared  also  in  both  knees,  and  then  in  my  hands.  As 
these  swellings  increased  and  extended,  the  other  malady  diminished, 
and  at  length  disappeared  entirely.  Those  swellings  have  some  time 
since  begun  to  fall,  and  are  now  almost  gone;  perhaps  the  cutaneous 
disease  may  return  or  perhaps  it  is  worn  out.  I may  hereafter  let  you 
know  what  happened.  I am  on  the  whole  much  weaker  than  when 
it  began  to  leave  me.  But  possibly  that  may  be  the  effect  of  age,  for  I 
am  now  near  eighty- three,  the  age  of  commencing  decrepitude.  . . . 

In  addition  to  discussing  again  his  stone,  Franklin  gives  some  advice/ 
about  deafness,  showing  he  had  experimented  even  in  this  line.  f 


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Philadelphia,  February  17,  1789. 

To  Alexander  Small. 

Dear  Friend: 

I have  just  received  your  kind  letter  of  November  29th,  and  am  much 
obliged  by  your  friendly  attention  in  sending  me  the  receipt,  which  on 
occasion  I may  make  trial  of;  but  the  stone  I have  being  a large  one, 
as  I find  by  the  weight  it  falls  with  when  I turn  in  bed,  I have  no  hope 
of  its  being  dissoluble  by  any  medicine;  and  having  been  for  some  time 
past  pretty  free  from  pain,  I am  afraid  of  tampering.  I congratulate 
you  on  the  escape  you  had  by  avoiding  the  one  you  mention,  that  was 
as  big  as  a kidney  bean;  had  it  been  retained,  it  might  soon  have  become 
too  large  to  pass,  and  proved  the  cause  of  much  pain  at  times,  as  mine 
has  been  to  me.  . . . 

. . . The  deafness  you  complain  of  gives  me  concern,  as  if  great  it 

must  diminish  considerably  your  pleasure  in  conversation.  If  moderate, 
you  may  remedy  it  easily  and  readily,  by  putting  your  thumb  and  fingers 
behind  your  ear,  pressing  it  outwards,  and  enlarging  it,  as  it  were,  with 
the  hollow  of  your  hand.  By  an  exact  experiment  I found,  that  I could 
hear  the  tick  of  a watch  at  forty-five  feet  distance  by  this  means,  which 
was  barely  audible  at  twenty  feet  without  it.  The  experiment  was  made 
at  midnight  when  the  house  was  still.  . . . 

Franklin  took  opium  for  his  pain,  but  recognized  well  the  penalty 
he  must  thereby  pay. 

Philadelphia,  Sept.  5,  1789. 

To.  M.  Le.  Veillard. 

. . . I hope  you  have  perfectly  recovered  of  the  Effects  of  your 
Fall  at  Madam  Helvetius’,  and  that  you  now  enjoy  perfect  Health; 
as  to  mine,  I can  give  you  no  good  account.  I have  a long  time  been 
afflicted  with  almost  constant  and  grievous  Pain,  to  combat  which  I 
have  been  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  Opium,  which  indeed  has  afforded 
me  some  Ease  from  time  to  time,  but  then  it  has  taken  away  my  Appetite 
and  so  impeded  my  Digestion  that  I am  become  totally  emaciated,  and 
little  remains  of  me  but  a Skeleton  covered  with  a Skin.  . . . 


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Philadelphia,  November  2,  1789. 

To  Benjamin  Vaughan. 

Mv  Dearest  Friend: 

I received  your  kind  letter  of  August  Sth.  I thank  you  much  for 
your  intimations  of  the  virtues  of  hemlock,  but  I have  tried  so  many 
things  with  so  little  effect,  that  I am  quite  discouraged,  and  have  no 
longer  any  faith  in  remedies  for  the  stone.  The  palliating  system  is  what 
I am  now  fixed  in.  Opium  gives  me  ease  when  I am  attacked  by  pain, 
and  by  the  use  of  it  I still  make  life  at  least  tolerable.  Not  being  able 
however,  to  bear  sitting  to  write,  I now  make  use  of  the  hand  of  one  of 
my  grandsons,  dictating  to  him  from  my  bed.  . . . 

Still  another  reference  to  Franklin’s  treating  cases  of  nervous  disease 
by  electricity  is  found  in  a letter  to  Ezra  Stiles,  who  had  written  to 
Franklin  saying  that  he  had  not  an  idea  of  his  religious  sentiments,  and 
wished  to  know  his  opinion  concerning  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  Franklin  in 
replying  said: 

Philadelphia,  March  9,  1790. 

To  Ezra  Stiles. 

. . . I shall  only  add,  respecting  myself,  that,  having  experienced 

the  Goodness  of  that  Being  in  conducting  me  prosperously  thro’  a long 
life,  I have  no  doubt  of  its  Continuance  in  the  next,  though  without  the 
smallest  Conceit  of  meriting  such  Goodness.  My  Sentiments  on  this 
Head  you  will  see  in  the  copy  of  an  old  Letter  enclosed,  which  I wrote  in 
answer  to  one  from  a zealous  Religionist,  whom  I had  relieved  in  a 
paralytic  case  by  electricity,  and  who,  being  afraid  I should  grow  proud 
upon  it,  sent  me  his  serious  though  rather  impertinent  Caution.  . . . 

Two  of  Franklin’s  so-called  bagatelles  have  been  already  copied  in 
part,  the  following  also  has  some  bearing  upon  medical  matters  as  well. 
This  was  written  when  he  was  eighty  years  of  age. 

The  Art  of  Procuring  Pleasant  Dreams. 

Inscribed  to  Miss  Shipley,  being  written  at  her  request. 

As  a great  part  of  our  life  is  spent  in  sleep  during  which  we  have 
sometimes  painful  dreams,  it  becomes  of  some  consequence  to  obtain 
the  one  kind  and  avoid  the  other;  for  whether  real  or  imaginary,  pain 


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is  pain  and  pleasure  is  pleasure.  If  we  can  sleep  without  dreaming,  it 
is  well  that  painful  dreams  are  avoided.  If  while  we  sleep  we  can  have 
any  pleasing  dream,  it  is,  as  the  French  say,  autant  de  gagne,  so  much 
added  to  the  pleasure  of  life. 

To  this  end  it  is,  in  the  first  place,  necessary  to  be  careful  in  preserv- 
ing health,  by  due  exercise  and  great  temperance;  for,  in  sickness,  the 
imagination  is  disturbed,  and  disagreeable,  sometimes  terrible,  ideas 
are  apt  to  present  themselves.  Exercise  should  precede  meals,  not 
immediately  follow  them;  the  first  promotes,  the  latter,  unless  moderate, 
obstructs  digestion.  If,  after  exercise,  we  feed  sparingly,  the  digestion 
will  be  good  and  easy,  the  body  lightsome,  the  temper  cheerful,  and 
all  the  animal  functions  performed  agreeably.  Sleep,  when  it  follows, 
will  be  natural  and  undisturbed,  while  indolence,  with  full  feeding, 
occasions  nightmares  and  horrors  inexpressible;  we  fall  from  precipices, 
are  assaulted  by  wild  beasts,  murderers,  and  demons,  and  experience 
every  variety  of  distress.  Observe,  however,  that  the  quantities  of  food 
and  exercise  are  relative  things;  those  who  move  much  may,  and  indeed 
ought  to  eat  more;  those  who  use  little  exercise  should  eat  little.  In 
general,  mankind,  since  the  improvement  of  cookery,  eat  twice  as  much 
as  nature  requires.  Suppers  are  not  bad,  if  we  have  not  dined;  but 
restless  nights  naturally  follow  hearty  suppers  after  full  dinners.  Indeed, 
as  there  is  a difference  in  constitutions,  some  rest  well  after  these  meals; 
it  costs  them  only  a frightful  dream  and  an  apoplexy,  after  which  they 
sleep  till  doomsday.  Nothing  is  more  common  in  the  newspapers,  than 
instances  of  people  who,  after  eating  a hearty  supper,  are  found  dead 
abed  in  the  morning. 

Another  means  of  preserving  health,  to  be  attended  to,  is  the  having 
a constant  supply  of  fresh  air  in  your  bed-chamber.  It  has  been  a great 
mistake,  the  sleeping  in  rooms  exactly  closed,  and  in  beds  surrounded 
by  curtains.  No  outward  air  that  may  come  in  to  you  is  so  unwholesome 
as  the  unchanged  air,  often  breathed,  of  a close  chamber.  As  boiling 
water  does  not  grow  hotter  by  boiling  longer,  if  the  particles  that  receive 
greater  heat  can  escape;  so  living  bodies  do  not  putrefy,  if  the  particles, 
so  fast  as  they  become  putrefied,  can  be  thrown  off.  Nature  expels 
them  by  the  pores  of  the  skin  and  the  lungs,  and  in  a free,  open  air  they 
are  carried  off;  but  in  a close  room  we  receive  them  again  and  again, 
though  they  become  more  and  more  corrupt.  A number  of  persons 


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crowded  into  a small  room  thus  spoil  the  air  in  a.  few  minutes,  and  even 
render  it  mortal,  as  in  the  Black  Hole  at  Calcutta.  A single  person  is 
said  to  spoil  only  a gallon  of  air  per  minute,  and  therefore  requires  a 
longer  time  to  spoil  a chamber-full;  but  it  is  done,  however,  in  a pro- 
portion, and  many  putrid  disorders  hence  have  their  origin.  It  is 
recorded  of  Methusalem,  who,  being  the  longest  liver,  may  be  supposed 
to  have  best  preserved  his  health,  that  he  slept  always  in  the  open  air;  for, 
when  he  had  lived  five  hundred  years,  an  angel  said  to  him;  “Arise, 
Methusalem,  and  build  thee  a house,  for  thou  shalt  live  yet  five  hundred 
years  longer.”  But  Methusalem  answered,  and  said,  “If  I am  to  live 
but  five  hundred  years  longer,  it  is  not  worth  while  to  build  me  an  house; 
I will  sleep  in  the  air,  as  I have  been  used  to  do.”  Physicians,  after 
having  for  ages  contended  that  the  sick  should  not  be  indulged  with 
fresh  air,  have  at  length  discovered  that  it  may  do  them  good.  It  is 
therefore  to  be  hoped  that  they  may  in  time  discover  likewise,  that  it  is 
not  hurtful  to  those  who  are  in  health,  and  that  we  may  be  then  cured 
of  the  aerophobia,  that  at  present  distresses  weak  minds,  and  makes  them 
choose  to  be  stifled  and  poisoned,  rather  than  leave  open  the  window^  of 
a bedchamber,  or  put  down  the  glass  of  a coach. 

Confined  air,  when  saturated  and  perspirable  matter,  will  not  receive 
more;  and  that  matter  must  remain  in  our  bodies,  and  occasion  diseases, 
but  it  gives  some  previous  notice  of  its  being  about  to  be  hurtful,  by 
producing  certain  uneasiness,  slight  indeed  at  first,  which  as  with  regard 
to  the  lungs  is  a trifling  sensation,  and  to  the  pores  of  the  skin  a kind  of 
restlessness,  which  is  difficult  to  describe,  and  few  that  feel  it  know  the 
cause  of  it.  But  we  may  recollect,  that  sometimes  on  waking  in  the 
night,  we  have,  if  warmly  covered,  found  it  difficult  to  get  asleep  again. 
We  turn  often  without  finding  repose  in  any  position.  This  figettiness 
(to  use  a wjlgar  expression  for  want  of  a better)  is  occasioned  wholly  by 
an  uneasiness  in  the  skin,  owing  to  the  retention  of  the  perspirable 
matter — the  bed-clothes  having  received  their  quantity,  and,  being 
saturated,  refusing  to  take  any  more.  To  become  sensible  of  this  by  an 
experiment,  let  a person  keep  his  position  in  the  bed,  but  throw  off  the 
bed-clothes,  and  suffer  fresh  air  to  approach  the  part  uncovered  of  his 
body;  he  will  then  feel  that  part  suddenly  refreshed;  for  the  air  will 
immediately  relieve  the  skin,  by  receiving,  licking  up,  and  carrying  off,  the 


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load  of  perspirable  matter  that  incommoded  it.  For  every  portion  of 
cool  air  that  approaches  the  warm  skin,  in  receiving  its  part  of  that 
vapour,  receives  therewith  a degree  of  heat  that  rarefies  and  renders  it 
lighter,  when  it  will  be  pushed  away  with  its  burthen,  by  cooler  and 
therefore  heavier  fresh  air,  which  for  a moment  supplies  its  place,  and 
then  likewise  changed  and  warmed,  gives  way  to  a succeeding  quantity. 
This  is  the  order  of  nature,  to  prevent  animals  being  infected  by  their 
own  perspiration.  He  will  now  be  sensible  of  the  difference  between  the 
part  exposed  to  the  air  and  that  which,  remaining  sunk  in  the  bed, 
denies  the  air  access;  for  this  part  now  manifests  its  uneasiness  more 
distinctly  by  the  comparison,  and  the  seat  of  the  uneasiness  is  more 
plainly  perceived  than  when  the  whole  surface  of  the  body  was  affected 
by  it. 

Here,  then,  is  one  great  and  general  cause  of  unpleasing  dreams. 
For  when  the  body  is  uneasy,  the  mind  will  be  disturbed  by  it,  and  disa- 
greeable ideas  of  various  kinds  will  in  sleep  be  the  natural  consequence. 
The  remedies,  preventive  and  curative,  follow: 

1.  By  eating  moderately  (as  before  advised  for  health’s  sake)  less 
perspirable  matter  is  produced  in  a given  time;  hence  the  bed-clothes 
receive  it  longer  before  they  are  saturated,  and  we  may  therefore  sleep 
longer  before  we  are  made  uneasy  by  their  refusing  to  receive  any  more. 

2.  By  using  thinner  and  more  porous  bed-clothes,  which  will  suffer 
the  perspirable  matter  more  easily  to  pass  through  them,  we  are  less 
incommoded,  such  being  longer  tolerable. 

3.  When  you  are  awakened  by  this  uneasiness,  and  find  you  cannot 
easily  sleep  again,  get  out  of  bed,  beat  up  and  turn  your  pillow,  shake 
the  bed-clothes  well,  with  at  least  twenty  shakes,  then  throw  the  bed 
open  and  leave  it  to  cool;  in  the  meanwhile,  continuing  undrest,  walk 
about  your  chamber  till  your  skin  has  had  time  to  discharge  its  load, 
which  it  will  do  sooner  as  the  air  may  be  dried  and  colder.  When  you 
begin  to  feel  the  cold  air  unpleasant,  then  return  to  your  bed,  and  you 
will  soon  fall  asleep,  and  your  sleep  will  be  sweet  and  pleasant.  All 
the  scenes  presented  to  your  fancy  will  be  too  of  the  pleasing  kind. 
I am  often  as  agreeably  entertained  with  them,  as  by  the  scenery  of  an 
opera.  If  you  happen  to  be  too  indolent  to  get  out  of  bed,  you  may, 
instead  of  it,  lift  up  your  bed-clothes  with  one  arm  and  leg,  so  as  to 
draw  in  a good  deal  of  fresh  air,  and  by  letting  them  fall  force  it  out 


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again.  This,  repeated  twenty  times,  will  so  clear  them  of  the  perspir- 
able matter  they  have  imbibed,  as  to  permit  your  sleeping  well  for  some 
time  afterAvards.  But  this  latter  method  is  not  equal  to  the  former. 


Fig.  35. — Dr.  John  Redman.' 


Those  AA’ho  do  not  loA’e  trouble,  and  can  afford  to  haA'e  tAvo  beds, 
will  find  great  luxury  in  rising,  Avhen  they  wake  in  a hot  bed,  and  going 
into  the  cool  one.  Such  shifting  of  beds  would  also  be  of  great  service 
to  persons  ill  of  a feA’er,  as  it  refreshes  and  frequently  procures  sleep. 
A very  large  bed,  that  will  admit  a remoA’al  so  distant  from  the  first 
situation  as  to  be  cool  and  SAveet,  may  in  a degree  answer  the  same  end. 

One  or  two  obserA’ations  more  will  conclude  this  little  piece.  Care 
must  be  taken,  when  you  lie  down,  to  dispose  your  pillow  so  as  to  suit 
your  manner  of  placing  your  head,  and  to  be  perfectly  easy;  then  place 

' John  Redman,  1722-1806.  Eminent  practitioner  of  medicine  in  Philadelphia. 
Studied  at  Edinburg,  London,  and  Paris.  Graduated  at  the  University  of  Le}’den 
in  1748.  Was  elected  the  first  president  of  the  College  of  Physicians  in  1786.  A 
friend  of  Franklin’s. 


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University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


your  limbs  so  as  not  to  bear  inconveniently  hard  upon  one  another,  as, 
for  instance,  the  joints  of  your  ankles;  for,  though  a bad  position  may 
at  first  give  but  little  pain  and  be  hardly  noticed,  yet  a continuance  will 
render  it  less  tolerable,  and  the  uneasiness  may  come  on  while  you  are 
asleep,  and  disturb  your  imagination.  These  are  the  rules  of  the  art. 
But,  though  they  will  generally  prove  effectual  in  producing  the  end 
intended,  there  is  a case  in  which  the  most  punctual  observance  of  them 
will  be  totally  fruitless.  I need  not  mention  the  case  to  you,  my  dear 
friend,  but  my  account  of  the  art  would  be  imperfect  without  it.  The 
case  is,  when  the  person  who  desires  to  have  pleasant  dreams  has  not 
taken  care  to  preserve,  what  is  necessary  above  all  things, 

A Good  Conscience. 

In  the  last  years  of  Benjamin  Franklin’s  life  when  suffering  from 
a complication  of  maladies.  Cutler  relates  that  “he  used  a warm  bath 
every  day”  in  a “bathing  vessel  said  to  be  a curiosity.  It  is  copper, 
in  the  form  of  a Slipper.  He  sits  in  the  Heel,  and  his  legs  go  under  the 
Vamp;  on  the  Instep  he  has  a place  to  fix  his  book,  and  here  he  sits  and 
enjoys  himself.  About  the  time  I left  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  they 
chose  him  President  of  the  Executive  Council.  His  accepting  the  office 
is  a sure  sign  of  senility.  But  would  it  not  be  a capital  subject  for  an 
historical  painting  . . . the  Doctor  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Council 

Board  in  his  bathing  slipper?” 


Some  reference  to  Benjamin  Franklin’s  last  illness  and  death,  may 
well  be  quoted  here. 

f(  In  1735  he  had  pleurisy  which  terminated  in  an  abscess  of  the  left 
dobe  of  the  lungs,  and  he  was  almost  suffocated  with  the  quantity  and 
suddenness  of  the  discharge  which  occurred  when  the  abscess  ruptured. 

, This  may  have  had  some  influence  upon  his  final  illness  of  which  it  is 
said  by  Dr.  John  Jones, ^ his  physician; 

'John  Jones,  1729-1791.  Born  on  Long  Island,  studied  under  Dr.  Thomas 
Cadwalader,  of  Philadelphia.  Received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  the  University 
of  Rheims.  Practiced  in  New  York.  Surgeon  during  the  Revolution.  Member 
of  American  Philosophical  Society.  Professor  of  Surgery  in  the  College  of  New  York. 
In  1775  published  “Plain  Remarks  upon  Wounds  and  Fractures.”  Removed  to 
Philadelphia  in  1780.  Elected  physician  to  Pennsylvania  Hospital  and  to  the 
Philadelphia  Hospital.  Attended  George  Washington. 


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129 


“The  stone  with  which  he  had  been  afflicted  for  several  years,  had 
for  the  last  twelve  months  confined  him  chiefly  to  his  bed;  and  during 
the  extremely  painful  paroxysms,  he  was  obliged  to  take  large  doses  of 
laudanum  to  mitigate  his  tortures  . , . still,  in  the  intervals  of  pain, 

he  not  only  amused  himself  with  reading  and  conversing  cheerfully  with 


Fig.  36.- — Dr.  John  Jones. 

his  family,  and  a few  friends  who  visited  him,  but  was  often  employed  in 
doing  business  of  a public  as  well  as  private  nature,  with  various  persons 
who  waited  on  him  for  that  purpose:  and  in  every  instance  displayed, 
not  only  that  readiness  and  disposition  of  doing  good,  which  was  the 
distinguishing  characteristic  of  his  life,  but  the  fullest  and  clearest  pos- 
session of  his  uncommon  mental  abilities;  and  not  unfrequently  indulged 
himself  in  those  ‘jeux  d’esprit’  and  entertaining  anecdotes,  which  were 
the  delight  of  all  who  heard  him. 

“About  sixteen  days  before  his  death  he  was  seized  with  a feverish 


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indisposition,  without  any  particailar  symptoms  attending  it,  till  the 
third  or  fourth  day,  when  he  complained  of  a pain  in  the  left  breast, 
which  increased  till  it  became  extremely  acute,  attended  with  a cough 
and  laborious  breathing.  During  this  state  when  the  severity  of  his  pain 
drew  forth  a groan  of  complaint,  he  would  observe  . . . that  he  was 

afraid  he  did  not  bear  them  as  he  ought  . . . acknowledged  his 

grateful  sense  of  the  many  blessings  he  had  received  from  that  Supreme 
Being,  who  had  raised  him  from  small  and  low  beginnings  to  such  high 
rank  and  consideration  among  men  . . . and  made  no  doubt  but  his 

present  afflictions  were  kindly  intended  to  wean  him  from  a world,  in 
which  he  was  no  longer  fit  to  act  the  part  assigned  him.  In  this  frame 
of  body  and  mind  he  continued  till  five  days  before  his  death,  when  his 
pain  and  difficulty  of  breathing  entirely  left  him,  and  his  family  were 
flattering  themselves  with  the  hopes  of  his  recovery,  when  an  imposthu- 
mation,  which  had  formed  itself  in  his  lungs,  suddenly  burst,  and  dis- 
charged a great  quantity  of  matter,  which  he  continued  to  throw  up  while 
he  had  sufflcient  strength  to  do  it;  but,  as  that  failed,  the  organs  of 
respiration  became  gradually  oppressed,  a calm  lethargic  state  succeeded, 
and  on  the  17th  of  April,  1790,  about  eleven  o’clock  at  night,  he  quietly 
expired,  closing  a long  and  useful  life  of  eighty-four  years  and  three 
months.” 

Dr.  Rush  wrote  to  Dr.  Price. 

The  papers  will  inform  you  of  the  death  of  our  late  friend.  Dr.  Frank- 
lin. The  evening  of  his  life  was  marked  by  the  activity  of  his  moral  and 
intellectual  powers  which  distinguished  its  meridian.  His  conversation 
with  his  family  upon  the  subject  of  his  dissolution  was  free  and  cheerful. 
A few  days  before  he  died  he  rose  from  his  bed  and  begged  that  it  might 
be  made  up  for  him  so  that  he  might  die  in  a decent  manner.  His 
daughter  told  him  that  she  hoped  he  would  recover  and  live  many 
years  longer.  He  calmly  replied,  “I  hope  not.”  Upon  being  advised 
to  change  his  position  in  bed,  that  he  might  breathe  easy,  he  said,  “A 
dying  man  can  do  nothing  easy.”  All  orders  and  bodies  of  people  have 
vied  with  each  other  in  paying  tributes  of  respect  to  his  memory. 

In  Franklin’s  will  appears  the  following:  “I  give  twenty  guineas  to 
my  good  friend  and  physician.  Dr.  John  Jones.” 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


131 


Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  in  his  will  bequeathed  to  the  Pennsylvania 
Hospital  a great  number  of  old  unpaid  debts  owing  to  him,  anmouting 
to  over  £5,000  expressing  the  hope,  “ that  those  debtors  and  the  descend- 
ants of  such  as  are  deceased  who  now  as  I find  make  some  difficulties 
of  satisfying  such  antiquated  demands  as  just  debts,  may  however  be 
induced  to  pay  or  give  them  as  Charity  to  that  excellent  Institution.” 
But  at  a meeting  held  to  consider  the  advisability  of  accepting  this 
peculiar  gift,  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  all  the  contributors 
present,  that  this  legacy  could  not  with  safety  be  accepted.  The  difficulty 
lay  in  the  fact  that  most  of  these  debts  were  so  old  that  there  was  not  the 
slightest  hope  of  their  being  paid;  while  Franklin  had  stated  that  any 
accounts  on  the  other  side  of  the  Ledger,  in  the  form  of  charges  against 
him,  should  be  paid  by  the  Managers. 

Many  physicians  who  were  friends  of  Franklin’s  have  not  been 
mentioned  in  the  preceeding  pages  because  in  the  correspondence  which 
remains  to  us,  there  is  nothing  of  medical  interest.  Notably  among 
these  should  be  mentioned:  Dr.  Thomas  Cadwalader,  the  author  of 
An  Essay  on  the  West-India  Dry  Gripes;  with  the  Method  of  Prevent- 
ing and  Curing  that  Cruel  Distemper.  To  which  is  added,  An  Extra- 
ordinary Case  in  Physick,  Philadelphia:  Printed  and  sold  by  B.  Franklin. 
MDCCXLV. 

Dr.  Cadwalader  begged  Franklin  to  accept  the  dedication  of  his 
work. 

Dr.  Alexander  Garden,^  a frequent  correspondent  of  Franklin’s. 

Dr.  Phineas  Bond,^  who  with  his  brother.  Dr.  Thomas  Bond,  were 
members  of  a society,  started  by  Franklin,  for  promoting  useful  knowl- 
edge, which  later  became  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  The  two 
Dr.  Bonds  were  great  friends  of  Franklin’s. 

Dr.  Rene  Georges  Gastelier,^  who  wrote  an  essay  upon  the  persistence 
of  sensation  after  decapitation  by  the  guillotine,  wished  to  dedicate  his 

^Alexander  Garden,  1730-1791.  .4  British  physician,  zoologist,  botanist,  who 

lived  for  many  years  in  Charlestown,  South  Carolina,  where  he  practiced  medicine. 
Linnaeus  named  the  genus  Gardenia  after  him. 

^ Phineas  Bond,  1717-1773.  Bom  in  Maryland,  studied  medicine  in  Leyden, 
Paris,  Edinburgh,  and  London.  Original  trustee  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
Member  of  the  first  medical  staff  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital. 

’ Rene  Georges  Gastelier,  1741-1821.  French  physician  and  medical  writer. 


132 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


work  on  “Species  in  Medicine,”  to  Franklin  and  persuaded  the  Marquis 
of  Mirabeau  to  intercede  for  him. 

Dr.  William  Brownrigg,^  whose  name  is  linked  with  Franklin’s  in  a 
book  entitled  “Of  the  Stilling  of  Waves  by  means  of  Oil : Extracted  from 
Sundry  Letters  between  Benjamin  Franklin,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.,  William 
Brownrigg,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Farish.  Read  at  the 
Royal  Society,  June  12,  1774,  London  1774.” 

Sir  Charles  Blagden,^  who  aided  Franklin  in  one  of  his  experiments 
upon  the  effects  of  oil  on  stilling  waves. 

Dr.  Edward  Bancroft,^  who  although  an  Englishman,  apparently 
favored  the  American  cause  and  who  has  even  been  accused  of  having 
been  a spy. 

On  page  32  a brief  reference  will  be  found  to  the  account  which 
Franklin  persuaded  Dr.  William  Heberden  to  write  on  the  subject  of 
inoculation  for  the  smallpox.  Since  publishing  this  part,  I have 
discovered,  through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Harvey  W.  Cushing,  that  this 
pamphlet  of  Dr.  Heberden’s  contained  a letter  of  Benjamin  Franklin’s 
of  very  great  medical  interest.  Dr.  Cushing  sent  me  a reprint  of  an 
article  by  his  father.  Dr.  Henry  K.  Cushing,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  entitled 
“Notes  Suggested  by  the  Franklin-Heberden  Pamphlet  of  1759.” 
This  article  appeared  in  The  Johns  Hopkins  Hospital  Bulletin, 
September,  1904,  vol.  xv.  No.  162.  From  this  I learn  that  in  the  original 
Franklin-Heberden  pamphlet  the  part  written  by  Franklin  fills  four 
pages,  while  Dr.  Heberden  has  contributed  eight.  This  whole  pamphlet 
is,  I think,  worthy  of  reproduction,  not  only  on  account  of  its  great  rarity, 
but  because  of  the  most  interesting  account  it  gives  us  of  the  method 
and  success  of  inoculation  as  practised  in  those  days,  but  I feel  that  the 
part  written  by  Dr.  Heberden  is  too  long,  and  will  reprint  merely  the 
letter  or  introduction  written  by  Franklin.  I regret  that  I could  not 
have  introduced  it  after  the  reference  made  to  it  on  page  32. 

‘ William  Brownrigg,  1711-1800.  English  physician  and  natural  philosopher. 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society. 

* Sir  Charles  Blagden,  1748-1820.  An  EngUsh  physician.  Entered  the  army. 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society.  Of  him  Dr.  Johnson  said,  “ Blagden,  sir,  is  a delightful 
fellow.” 

® Edward  Bancroft,  1744-1821.  Enghsh  physician,  chemist,  naturalist,  and  author 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


133 


SOHIE 

ACCOrXT 

OF  THE  SECCESS  OF 
INOCELATION 
FOR  TELE 
SMALL-POX 
IX 

EXGLAXD  AND  AMERICA 
TOGETHER  MTTH 
PLAIX  IXSTRUCTIONS, 

BY  M"HICH  AXY  PERSOX  JLiY  BE  EXABLED  TO  PERFORM  THE 
OPERATIOX,  AXD  COXDUCT  THE  PATIEXT  THROUGH  THE  DISTEMPER. 


LOXDOX: 

PRIXTED  BY  ML  STR-AH.\X,  M.  DCC.  LIX. 

London,  Feb.  16,  1759. 

Having  been  desired  by  mv  greatly  esteemed  friend,  Dr.  William 
Heberden,  F.R.S.,  one  of  the  principal  Physicians  of  this  city,  to  com- 
municate M'hat  account  I had  of  the  success  of  Inoculation  in  Boston, 
New-England,  I some  time  since  wrote  and  sent  to  him  the  following 
paper,  viz.: 

About  1753  or  54,  the  .small-pox  made  its  appearance  in  Boston, 
New-England.  It  had  not  spread  in  the  town  for  many  years  before, 
so  that  there  were  a great  number  of  the  inhabitants  to  have  it.  At  first, 
endeavors  were  used  to  prevent  its  spreading,  by  removing  the  sick, 
or  guarding  the  houses  in  which  they  were;  and  with  the  same  view 
Inoculation  was  forbidden;  but  when  it  was  found  that  these  endeavors 
were  fruitless,  the  distemper  breaking  out  in  different  quarters  of  the 
town,  and  increasing.  Inoculation  was  then  permitted. 

Upon  this,  all  that  inclined  to  Inoculation  for  themselves  or  families 
hurried  into  it  precipitately,  fearing  the  infection  might  otherwise  be 
taken  in  the  common  way;  the  numbers  inoculated  in  every  neighborhood 
spread  the  infection  likewise  more  speedily  among  those  who  did  not 
chuse  Inoculation;  so  that  in  a few  months  the  distemper  went  thro’ 
the  town,  and  was  extinct;  and  the  trade  of  the  town  suffered  only  a 


134 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


short  interruption,  compar’d  wdth  what  had  been  usual  in  former  times, 
the  country  people  during  the  seasons  of  that  sickness  fearing  all  inter- 
course Avith  the  toAATi. 

As  the  practice  of  Inocuktion  always  divided  people  into  parties, 
some  contending  warmly  for  it,  and  others  as  strongly  against  it;  the 
latter  asserting  that  the  advantages  pretended  were  imaginary,  and 
that  the  Surgeons,  from  views  of  interest,  conced’d  or  diminish’d  the 
true  number  of  deaths  occasion’d  by  Inoculation,  and  magnify’d 
the  number  of  those  who  died  of  the  Small-pox  in  the  common  way: 
It  was  resolved  by  the  Magistrates  of  the  town,  to  cause  a strict  and 
impartial  enquiry  to  be  made  by  the  Constables  of  each  ward,  who  were 
to  give  in  their  returns  upon  oath;  and  that  the  enquiry  might  be  made 
more  strictly  and  impartially,  some  of  the  partisans  for  and  against  the 
practice  were  join’d  as  assistants  to  the  officers,  and  accompany’d 
them  in  their  progress  through  the  wards  from  house  to  house.  Their 
several  returns  being  received,  and  summed  up  together,  the  numbers 
turn’d  out  as  follows. 


Had  the  Small-pox 
in  the  common  way. 

Of  these  died. 

Received  the  distemper 
by  Inoculation. 

Of  these  died. 

Whites 

Blacks 

Whites 

Blacks 

Whites 

Blacks 

Whites 

Blacks 

5059 

485 

452 

62 

1974 

139 

23 

7 

It  appeared  by  this  account  that  the  deaths  of  persons  inoculated, 
were  more  in  proportion  at  this  time  than  had  been  formerly  observed, 
being  something  more  than  one  in  a hundred.  . The  favourers  of  Inocu- 
lation howcA^er  AA'Ould  not  alloAV  that  this  Avas  owing  to  any  error  in  the 
former  accounts,  but  rather  to  the  Inoculating  at  this  time  many  unfit 
subjects,  partly  through  the  impatience  of  people  AA^ho  AA’ould  not  Avait 
the  necessary  preparation,  lest  they  should  take  it  in  the  common  Avay; 
and  partly  from  the  importunity  of  parents  prevailing  with  the  Surgeons 
against  their  judgment  and  advice  to  inoculate  weak  children,  labour- 
ing under  other  disorders;  because  the  parents  could  not  immediately 
remove  them  out  of  the  Avay  of  the  distemper,  and  thought  they  AA'ould 
at  least  stand  a better  chance  by  being  inoculated  than  in  taking  the 
infection  as  they  would  probably  do,  in  the  common  Avay. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin 


135 


The  Surgeons  and  Physicians  were  also  suddenly  oppressed  with  the 
great  hurry  of  business,  which  so  hasty  and  general  an  Inoculation  and 
spreading  of  the  distemper  in  the  common  way  must  occasion,  and 
probably  could  not  so  particularly  attend  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
patients  offered  for  Inoculation. 

Inoculation  was  first  practiced  by  Dr.  Boylstone  in  1720.^  It  was 
not  used  before  in  any  part  of  America,  and  not  in  Philadelphia  till 
1730.  Some  years  since,  an  enquiry  W'as  made  in  Philadelphia  of  the 
several  Surgeons  and  Physicians  who  had  practis’d  Inoculation,  what 
numbers  had  been  by  each  inoculated,  and  what  was  the  success.  The 
result  of  this  enquiry  was  that  upwards  of  800  (I  forget  the  exact  number) 
had  been  inoculated  at  different  times,  and  that  only  four  of  them  had 
died.  If  this  account  was  true,  as  I believe  it  was,  the  reason  of  greater 
success  then  than  had  been  found  in  Boston,  where  the  general  loss  by 
Inoculation  used  to  be  estimated  at  about  one  in  100,  may  probably  be 
from  this  circumstance;  that  in  Boston  they  always  keep  the  distemper 
out  as  long  as  they  can,  so  that  when  it  comes,  it  finds  a greater  number 
of  adult  subjects  than  in  Philadelphia,  where  since  1730  it  has  gone 
through  the  town  once  in  four  or  five  years,  so  that  the  greatest  number 
of  subjects  for  Inoculation  must  be  under  that  age. 

Notwithstanding  the  now  uncontroverted  success  of  Inoculation  it 
does  not  seem  to  make  that  progress  among  the  common  people  in 
America,  which  at  first  was  expected..  Scruples  of  conscience  weigh  with 
many  concerning  the  lawfulness  of  the  practice:  And  if  one  parent  or 
near  relation  is  against  it,  the  other  does  not  chuse  to  inoculate  a child 
without  free  consent  of  all  parties,  lest  in  case  of  a disastrous  event, 
perpetual  blame  should  follow. 

These  scruples  a sensible  Clergy  may  in  time  remove.  The  expense 
of  having  the  operation  performed  by  a Surgeon  weighs  with  others, 
for  that  has  been  pretty  high  in  some  parts  of  America;  and  when  a 
common  tradesman  or  artificer  has  a number  in  his  family  to  have  the 
distemper,  it  amounts  to  more  money  than  he  can  well  spare.  Many 
of  these,  rather  than  own  the  true  motive  for  declining  Inoculation,  join 
with  the  scrupulous  in  the  cry  against  it,  and  influence  others.  A small 
pamphlet  wrote  in  plain  language  by  some  skilful  Physician,  and  pub- 


* The  year  was  1721. 


136 


University  of  Pennsylvania  Medical  Bulletin 


lish’d,  directing  what  preparations  of  the  body  should  be  used  before 
the  Inoculation  of  children,  what  precautions  to  avoid  giving  the  infection 
at  the  same  time  in  the  common  way,  and  how  the  operation  is  to  be 
performed,  the  incisions  dressed,  the  patient  treated,  and  on  the  appear- 
ance of  what  symptoms  a Physician  is  to  be  called,  &c.,  might,  by 
encouraging  parents  to  inoculate  their  own  children,  be  a means  of 
removing  that  objection  of  the  expense,  render  the  practice  much  more 
general,  and  thereby  save  the  lives  of  thousands. 

The  Doctor,  after  perusing  and  considering  the  above,  humanely  took 
the  trouble  (tho’  his  extensive  practice  affords  him  scarce  any  time 
to  spare)  of  writing  the  following  Plain  Instructions,^  and  generously 
at  his  own  private  expense,  printed  a very  large  impression  of  them, 
which  was  put  into  my  hands  to  be  distributed  gratis  in  America.  Not 
aiming  at  the  prize  which  however  is  justly  due  to  such  disinterested 
benevolence,  he  has  omitted  his  name;  but  as  I though  the  advice  of  a 
nameless  Physician  might  possibly  on  that  account  be  less  regarded  I 
have,  without  his  knowledge,  here  divulged  it.  And  I have  prefixed 
to  his  small  but  valuable  work  these  pages,  containing  the  facts  that 
have  given  rise  to  it ; because  facts  generally  have,  as  indeed  they  ought 
to  have,  great  weight  in  persuading  to  the  practice  they  favour.  To 
these  I may  also  add  an  account  I have  been  favoured  with  by  Dr. 
Archer,  physician  to  the  Small-pox  Hospital  here,  viz. : 

PERSONS. 

There  have  been  inoculated  in  this  Hospital  since  its  first  institution  ^ 

to  this  day,  Dec.  31,  1758  1 

Of  which  number  died 6 

Patients  who  had  the  Small-pox  in  the  common  way  in  this  Hos-  -) 

pital,  to  the  same  day ) 

Of  which  number  have  died 1002 

By  this  account  it  appears,  that  in  the  way  of  inoculation  there  has 
died  but  one  patient,  in  267,  whereas  in  the  common  way  there  has  died 
more  than  one  in  four.  The  mortality  indeed  in  the  latter  case  appears 
to  have  been  greater  than  usual,  (one  in  seven,  when  the  distemper  is  not 
very  favourable,  being  reckoned  the  common  loss  in  towns  by  the  Small- 

* To  make  them  the  plainer  and  more  generally  intelligible,  the  Doctor  purposely 
avoided,  as  much  as  possible,  the  medical  terms  and  expressions  us’d  by  Physicians 
in  their  writings. 


The  Medical  Side  of  Benjamin  Franklin  137 

pox,  all  ages  and  ranks  taken  together)  but  these  patients  were  mostly 
adults,  and  were  received,  it  is  said,  into  the  Hospital  after  great  irregu- 
larities had  been  committed.  By  the  Boston  account  it  appears,  that, 
Whites  and  Blacks  taken  together,  but  about  one  in  eleven  died  in  the 
common  way,  and  the  distemper  then  was  therefore  reckoned  uncom- 
monly favourable.  I have  also  obtained  from  the  Foundling  Hospital 
(where  all  the  children  admitted,  that  had  not  had  the  Small-pox, 
are  inoculated  at  the  age  five  years)  an  account  to  this  time  of  the 
success  of  that  practice  there,  which  stand  thus,  viz. : 


Inoculated,  boys  162,  girls  176,  in  all 338 

Of  these  died  in  Inoculation,  only 2 


An  the  death  of  one  of  these  two  was  occasioned  by  a worm  fever. 

On  the  whole,  if  the  chance  was  only  as  two  to  one  in  favour  of  the 
practice  among  children,  would  it  not  be  sufficient  to  induce  a tender 
parent  to  lay  hold  of  the  advantages  ? 

But  when  it  is  so  much  greater,  as  it  appears  to  be  by  these  accounts 
(in  some  even  as  thirty  to  one)  surely  parents  will  no  longer  refuse  to 
accept  and  thankfully  use  a discovery  God  in  his  mercy  has  been  pleased 
to  bless  mankind  with;  whereby  some  check  may  now  be  put  to  the 
ravages  that  cruel  disease  has  been  accustomed  to  make,  and  the  human 
species  be  again  suffered  to  increase  as  it  did  before  Small-pox  made  its 
appearance.  This  increase  has  indeed  been  more  obstructed  by  that 
distemper  than  is  usually  imagin’d:  For  the  loss  of  one  in  ten  thereby 
is  not  merely  the  loss  of  so  many  persons,  but  the  accumulated  loss 
of  all  the  children  and  children’s  children  the  deceased  might  have  had, 
multiplied  by  successive  generations. 

B.  Fhaxklix, 
of  Philadelphia. 


THE  EXD. 


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